| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Naik Ranjit Singh |
| Regiment | 4 Dogra |
| Rank during action | Naik |
| Service Number | 3432415 |
| Gallantry Award | Kirti Chakra, Posthumous |
| Date of First Action | 1 September 1961 |
| Place | Chingkhu, Naga Hills |
| Area of Operations | Tuensang, Naga Hills |
| Date of Final Action | 18 September 1961 |
| Nature of Service | Counter-insurgency operations |
Naik Ranjit Singh of 4 Dogra remains remembered for extraordinary courage and devotion to duty during counter-insurgency operations in the Naga Hills in 1961. His military service was marked by a determination to protect his comrades and confront hostile forces even when the danger was immediate and overwhelming. His actions during two separate encounters in September 1961 ultimately earned him the Kirti Chakra posthumously.
On 1 September 1961, a platoon of 4 Dogra operating in the Naga Hills and Tuensang region was suddenly ambushed near Chingkhu by a large group of hostile fighters. The attackers were armed with rifles and light machine guns, and the opening fire was heavy enough to pin down the leading section of the platoon. The platoon commander was also wounded during the initial engagement.
Naik Ranjit Singh immediately took charge of the situation. Understanding the danger faced by his men, he deployed his section towards a dominating feature on the flank. From this position, he opened fire on the hostile forces with his section's light machine gun.
The fire delivered by Naik Ranjit Singh helped silence the hostile positions and placed his section in a position from which it could effectively challenge the ambush. His determined response disrupted the attack and forced the hostile group to abandon the ambush in disorder.
His actions that day demonstrated the qualities of a soldier who could remain composed under intense pressure. With the leading section pinned down and the platoon commander wounded, Ranjit Singh responded immediately rather than waiting for the situation to deteriorate further. His initiative helped protect his comrades and break the momentum of the ambush.
But his courage would be tested again only a few weeks later.
The Final Battle at Tuensang
On 18 September 1961, Naik Ranjit Singh was leading a section on patrol from Satol Post to Sakhai Post in the Tuensang area when the platoon was again ambushed. This time, the hostile force was considerably larger and attacked from close range in thickly wooded terrain.
The attackers opened fire with rifles, grenades, light machine guns and other automatic weapons. The intensity of the assault was devastating, and almost the entire leading section of the platoon was killed.
Despite the overwhelming situation, Naik Ranjit Singh refused to retreat. Disregarding his own safety, he launched a counter-attack against the hostile position. Armed with his Sten gun and grenades, he moved towards the enemy and fought back with exceptional determination.
His counter-attack disrupted the hostile offensive and helped save the lives of his surviving comrades. His actions also prevented the attackers from collecting weapons and ammunition from the soldiers who had fallen or been wounded.
Ranjit Singh continued fighting despite being heavily outnumbered. During the fierce exchange of fire, he was struck by a burst of hostile automatic fire and made the supreme sacrifice.
His final action reflected extraordinary courage. At a moment when the situation appeared overwhelmingly against his men, he chose to confront the enemy directly. His counter-attack not only challenged the hostile force but also helped protect his comrades and prevented the enemy from gaining possession of the weapons and ammunition left behind by the fallen.
For his outstanding courage and devotion to duty, Naik Ranjit Singh was awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously. His name was formally recorded among the recipients of the decoration for gallantry in the Naga Hills, with the award taking effect from 1 September 1961.
Naik Ranjit Singh's story represents the courage of a soldier who repeatedly placed the safety of his comrades and the success of his mission above his own life. On 1 September, he helped break an ambush near Chingkhu. On 18 September, when his patrol came under an even more severe attack, he once again moved towards the danger and fought until he made the supreme sacrifice.
His service came during a difficult period when the Indian Army was operating in the challenging terrain of the Naga Hills. Dense forests, difficult movement and hostile ambushes created an environment in which soldiers had to remain constantly alert. In such circumstances, leadership at the section level could make the difference between survival and disaster.
Naik Ranjit Singh provided that leadership.
His actions were not simply moments of battlefield bravery. They reflected a deep sense of responsibility towards his comrades. When his platoon commander was wounded, he acted. When his section came under attack, he fought back. And when his comrades were killed during the second ambush, he counter-attacked despite the overwhelming odds.
The Kirti Chakra awarded to him stands as a lasting recognition of that sacrifice.
Naik Ranjit Singh's name remains part of the proud history of 4 Dogra and of the Indian Army's operations in the Naga Hills. His story continues to represent courage, leadership, selflessness and devotion to duty.
On 1 September 1961, and again on 18 September, he stood between his comrades and an enemy determined to overwhelm them. He never placed his own safety above his duty.
Naik Ranjit Singh made the supreme sacrifice, but the example he left behind continues to endure.
The Honour Post salutes Naik Ranjit Singh, Kirti Chakra, and remembers with the deepest respect his courage, leadership and supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. 🇮🇳
Lest We Forget.
