On 18 August 2002, Colonel Kanwar Jaideep Singh Salaria made the supreme sacrifice while leading his men in a counter-terrorism operation in Nowshera, Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir.

Born on 18 July 1961 in Pathankot, Punjab, Colonel Salaria came from a military family. His father, Colonel Randhir Singh, was an Army veteran, and Kanwar Jaideep chose to follow the same path. He was commissioned into The Dogra Regiment in 1983 and went on to serve in several operational environments during his career. 


By March 2002, Colonel Salaria had taken command of 6 Dogra, deployed in the challenging operational environment of Rajouri district. He was an experienced officer by then, with nearly two decades of military service behind him.

His record already carried the mark of exceptional courage. As a Major, he had been awarded the Shaurya Chakra for gallantry during a counter-insurgency operation in 1997. He was also a recipient of the Sena Medal. 

Then came 18 August 2002.

During a patrol in the Nowshera area, Colonel Salaria and his men encountered a group of armed terrorists. The patrol came under fire and a fierce exchange followed.

Colonel Salaria moved into the fight alongside his troops. During the engagement, he helped move an injured soldier to safety and then returned to the area of the firefight. He personally engaged the terrorists and killed two of them before being shot in the neck. He later succumbed to his injuries. 

He was forty-one years old.

For his extraordinary courage and leadership during the operation, Colonel Kanwar Jaideep Singh was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for the second time, posthumously, receiving a Bar to the Shaurya Chakra. His decorations also included the Sena Medal. 

His story is remembered not simply because of the medals he earned, but because of the way he led his men. He was a commanding officer who did not remain behind when the situation became dangerous. On that August morning in Nowshera, he went forward with his troops and continued the fight even after one of his men was wounded.

Colonel Salaria left behind his parents, his wife Anuradha Rajput, and their daughter Aakanksha Salaria. 

More than two decades later, his name continues to find a place among India's decorated soldiers. In 2025, the Brave Hearts Memorial at Rashtriya Military School, Chail was unveiled in honour of five former students who had made the ultimate sacrifice, including Colonel Kanwar Jaideep Singh. 

From Pathankot to the Dogra Regiment, and ultimately to the hills of Rajouri, his journey was defined by duty.

On 18 August, The Honour Post remembers Colonel Kanwar Jaideep Singh Salaria, Shaurya Chakra and Bar, Sena Medal, and the sacrifice he made while leading his men in Nowshera.

He led from the front.
He stood by his men.
And he gave his life in the line of duty.

His courage is remembered.
His sacrifice is honoured.

**Lest We Forget. 🇮🇳**