Hav Ram Pratap Singh SM

Hav Ram Pratap Singh Yadav hailed from Ujoli village of Kotkasim tehsil in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Son of an Army veteran Hony Capt Shiv Chand Yadav and Smt Shanti Devi, he had the inclination to join the armed forces since his younger days like his father. Eventually, after completing his initial school education, he joined the army and was recruited into the Parachute Regiment, an infantry Regiment well known for its daredevil operations. His father too had served in the Parachute Regiment as part of 5 Para battalion.

Later he volunteered to be part of the 10 Para(SF) battalion, raised in the year 1967 and specialized in Desert Warfare and Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorism operations. He also participated in Sri Lankan Operations as a part of Op Pawan and acquitted himself very well. He was adjudged as "Best Commando" and was also given the award, “Sena Medal” for his commendable courage and devotion to duty. 

Operation Orchid (Nagaland) : 14 Mar 1994

During Mar 1994, Hav Ram Pratap Singh was serving with 10 Para(SF) battalion deployed in Nagaland for counter-insurgency operations. The unit was part of 'Operation Orchid' being undertaken by the Army in the Nagaland-Manipur-Arunachal Pradesh area. As the area of operation (AOR) of the unit was active with militancy, Hav Ram Pratap Singh and his comrades had to maintain a high level of alert at all times and had to be ready for operations at a short notice. As the militants often targeted road convoys of troops, it was a standard operating procedure to sanitize the designated route by armed patrol. Hav Ram Pratap Singh was part of one such patrol on 14 Mar 1994.

As Hav Ram Pratap Singh and his comrades reached an area frequented by the militants, they were attacked by the hiding militants. The militants were heavily armed and attacked the troops in a pre-planned move. Though it was a surprise attack, Hav Ram Pratap and his comrades rose to the occasion and swung into action. A fierce gun battle followed thereafter with heavy exchange of fire. Hav Ram Pratap Singh fought valiantly but got injured in the attack very severely.  He later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Hav Ram Pratap Singh was a gritty and valiant soldier, who laid down his life in the service of the nation.

Hav Ram Pratap Singh Yadav is survived by his wife Smt Santosh Devi.