21 October 2018 | In tribute to Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh
Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh of 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry made the supreme sacrifice on 21 October 2018 during an encounter with armed intruders in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir. He was one of three soldiers from the unit who lost their lives in the engagement near the Line of Control that afternoon.
As a member of 8 JAK LI, Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh served with a unit of the Indian Army entrusted with duties in a region of considerable operational sensitivity. Along the Line of Control, soldiers conduct patrols, maintain vigilance and respond to potential infiltration attempts in difficult terrain and under the constant possibility of hostile fire.
The Sunderbani encounter
On 21 October 2018, at around 1:45 pm, an Indian Army patrol encountered a group of heavily armed intruders in the Sunderbani sector. Contemporary reports citing the Army stated that the group had crossed into Indian territory near an Army post and opened fire on the patrol. The contact developed into an exchange of fire in the Rajouri sector.
Indian troops retaliated during the engagement, and two intruders were neutralised. Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh, Havildar Kaushal Kumar and Rifleman Rajat Kumar Basan sustained fatal injuries and made the supreme sacrifice. Rifleman Rakesh Kumar was also injured and was evacuated for medical treatment.
After the encounter, the area was cordoned off and a search operation was initiated to secure the site and investigate the intrusion. The incident highlighted the risks faced by soldiers undertaking patrol duties in the frontier areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
Remembering his sacrifice
The supreme sacrifice of Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh is remembered alongside that of his two fellow soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the same encounter. Their loss was a solemn moment for their families, their comrades in 8 JAK LI and the wider Army community.
The demands of military service on the Line of Control extend beyond routine deployment. Soldiers must remain prepared to respond to sudden threats, protect their fellow personnel and secure the territory entrusted to them. Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh made the supreme sacrifice while serving in this challenging operational environment.
Publicly available contemporary reporting confirms his unit, the date of the encounter and the circumstances in which he made the supreme sacrifice. In the absence of a verified individual account of his specific actions during the exchange of fire, this tribute focuses on his service and the sacrifice he made with his fellow soldiers.
The Honour Post honours Lance Naik Ranjeet Singh of 8 JAK LI, who made the supreme sacrifice on 21 October 2018 in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri. His service to the nation will be remembered with dignity, pride and enduring respect.
