Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh SM

Ptr Chhatrapal Singh hailed from Chhawashri village of Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan and was born on 12 Aug 1997. Son of Shri Suresh Kumar Pal and Smt Shashikala Devi, Ptr Chhatrapal Singh joined the army in the year-2015 at the age of 18-years. He belonged to the 4 Para (SF) battalion of the Parachute Regiment, an elite infantry Regiment well known for its daredevil para commandos and numerous bold operations. By the year 2020, Ptr Chhatrapal Singh had put in over 05 years of service and had evolved into a dedicated and disciplined soldier.

Operation Randori Behak: 01-05 April 2020  

During Apr 2020, Ptr Chhatrapal Singh’s unit was deployed in the Kashmir valley for counter-insurgency operations. Based on the information from the intelligence sources about the infiltration attempt by the terrorists in Kupwara district, the security forces launched “Op Randori Behak” on 01 Apr 2020. The soldiers deployed in Karen sector repeatedly picked up and lost track of the terrorists as they infiltrated across the Line of Control. On 03 April the troops picked up the trail at 4:30 pm and again at 6:30 pm on 04 April 4. It was then decided to launch Para commandos by dropping them by air near the suspected area. Ptr Chhatrapal Singh became part of this operation launched by 4 Para(SF) battalion. Based on the information gathered through UAV(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) of the Army intelligence network, the operation was planned on 05 Apr 2020 to foil an infiltration attempt in the Karen sector. As the suspected area was snow-covered and inaccessible the assault team was planned to be airdropped to integrate an element of surprise too in the operation.

The two squads of the elite para commandos including Ptr Chhatrapal Singh were airdropped in the suspected area as planned in poor visibility conditions. But soon the team spotted the footsteps of the terrorists in the snow and decided to follow the trail. As the soldiers were following the snowbound trail, at one point the hardened snow under their feet gave way plunging three members of the team into a nullah. However, the soldiers after tumbling down reached a place very near to the hideout of the terrorists. A fierce gun battle followed immediately as the soldiers came face to face with the infiltrators. Seeing their comrades under heavy fire, the other two soldiers who had managed to evade the collapsing snow also rushed to the place of action. In the ensuing heavy exchange of fire, the para commandos managed to eliminate all five terrorists.

However, it was combat at very close quarters and consequently, the soldiers too received multiple gunshots and got seriously injured. Three soldiers succumbed to their injuries and were martyred in the battle zone itself. The other two soldiers were airlifted to a nearby military hospital but they too succumbed to their grievous injuries and were martyred. Besides Ptr Chhatrapal Singh the other martyred soldiers included Sub Sanjeev Kumar, Hav Davendra Singh, Paratrooper Bal Krishan, and Paratrooper Amit Kumar. Ptr Chhatrapal Singh was a valiant and dedicated soldier who laid down his life at the age of 23 years in the line of his duty. Ptr Chhatrapal Singh was given the gallantry award, “Sena Medal” on 26 Jan 2021 for his exceptional courage, devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice.

Ptr Chhatrapal Singh is survived by his father Shri Suresh Kumar Pal, mother Smt Shashiala Devi and brother Shri Surya Pratap Singh.