Sepoy Manoj Kumar Singh VrC

Operation ‘Birsa Munda’:  09 Nov 1999

During November 1999, Sepoy Manoj Kumar Singh’s unit 12 Bihar was deployed in J&K for counter-insurgency operations. Though ‘Operation Vijay’ had drawn a two-way close but the Line of Control was still active with sporadic incidents of trans Line of Control violence. On 9th November 1999, the Pakistan Army launched an attack on the post, preceded by a heavy artillery bombardment. The Pakistani attack was repulsed, but in a bid to put an end to frequent hostile actions by the enemy, Indian Army decided to launch a well-coordinated operation. The operation was called “Operation Birsa Munda”, an Indian tribal freedom fighter and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe and had spearheaded a tribal religious movement in the late 19th century, during the British Raj. Sepoy Manoj Kumar Singh was part of Ghatak Team, which was tasked for the operation under the leadership of Capt Gurjinder Singh.

Sep Manoj Kumar Singh along with his comrades launched the operation on 09 Nov 1999. The enemy forces resorted to heavy artillery, mortar and small arms fire but that did not deter Sep Manoj Kumar Singh and other soldiers. Heavy snowfall and poor visibility further increased the degree of difficulty. The post located at a height of 11200 feet, was snowbound. Undeterred by the hostile weather and enemy fire Sep Manoj Kumar Singh and his buddy charged with fury onto the enemy bunker after lobbing a grenade and killing two enemy soldiers in a fierce hand-to-hand fight. This daring action inspired his team members who fell upon the enemy with vengeance. Sep Manoj Kumar thereafter destroyed the next bunker by pole charge and while charging into this bunker he was hit by a Rocket Propelled Grenade and was thrown off into the gorge. In the ensuing operations, 17 enemy soldiers were killed, 14 bunkers were destroyed and a large number of arms and assorted ammunition were captured from the enemy post.  Sepoy Manoj Kumar Singh displayed outstanding courage and gallantry while fighting the enemy and made the supreme sacrifice in the best traditions of the Indian Army. Besides Sepoy Manoj Kumar Singh the other martyred soldiers during the operation included Capt Gurjinder Singh (Who was awarded MVC), Sepoy Birendra Kumar, Mention-in-Despatches (Posthumous), and Lance Naik Birendra Nath Tiwari, Mention-in-Despatches (Posthumous).  Sepoy Manoj Kumar Singh was given the gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” for his exceptional courage, devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice.

Sepoy Manoj Kumar Singh is survived by his father Shri Ramji Singh, mother Smt Somaro Devi and wife Smt Devanti Devi.