On 19 August 2021, Subedar Ram Singh Bhandari of 16 Garhwal Rifles, serving on deputation with 48 Rashtriya Rifles, made the supreme sacrifice during a counter-terrorism operation in Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir. He was part of a team engaged in an intense operation against terrorists in the difficult terrain of the Rajouri district.
Ram Singh was originally from Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, although his family later moved to Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He joined the Indian Army in 1982, at just 17 years of age, and was recruited into 16 Garhwal Rifles. Over the course of a career spanning nearly four decades, he served in several demanding assignments and operational areas.
His military career was not limited to combat duties. He also served as an instructor at various training establishments and was part of the Indian contingent deployed on a United Nations mission in Congo in 2014. By 2021, he had completed more than 29 years of service and had risen to the rank of Subedar.
In 2019, Subedar Ram Singh was deputed to 48 Rashtriya Rifles, which was deployed in Jammu & Kashmir for counter-terrorism operations. His unit operated in the Rajouri area, where the proximity to the Line of Control and the difficult terrain made regular patrols and operations an essential part of the soldiers' duties.
The operation that claimed his life began on 18 August 2021 and continued into the following day. Based on intelligence inputs, security forces launched a search operation in the Kangota area of Rajouri. The operation soon turned into a fierce exchange of fire as terrorists engaged the troops.
During the fighting, Subedar Ram Singh and his buddy successfully neutralised two terrorists and continued to press towards the remaining terrorists.
It was during this intense exchange that Subedar Ram Singh sustained multiple gunshot injuries. Despite the severity of his wounds, he had already played a crucial role in the operation before being evacuated. He later succumbed to his injuries and made the supreme sacrifice.
For his courage and devotion to duty, Subedar Ram Singh was awarded the Sena Medal posthumously. The Government of India's official gallantry awards records identify him as JC-531611Y Subedar Ram Singh, The Garhwal Rifles, 48th Battalion The Rashtriya Rifles, posthumous.
For his family, however, the military citation could never tell the complete story.
Ram Singh was a husband and father. He and his wife, Anita Devi, had four daughters and a son. After spending most of his adult life in uniform, he had become a seasoned soldier and a senior member of his unit.
His journey from the hills of Pauri Garhwal to the ranks of the Indian Army had lasted nearly four decades. He had served in different parts of the country, undertaken overseas service with a United Nations mission, trained other soldiers and eventually returned to operational duty in Jammu & Kashmir.
His final operation in Rajouri became the last chapter of that long journey.
Subedar Ram Singh's story is a reminder that military service is not measured only by the number of years a soldier spends in uniform, but by the commitment with which those years are lived.
On 19 August, The Honour Post remembers Subedar Ram Singh Bhandari, a soldier of 16 Garhwal Rifles, serving with 48 Rashtriya Rifles, who stood his ground in Rajouri and made the supreme sacrifice.
Nearly four decades in uniform.
One final operation.
A legacy of courage and service.
His service is remembered.
His valour is honoured.
His sacrifice will never be forgotten. 🇮🇳
**Lest We Forget.**
