He was just 19 years old when his life came to an end during an operation in the difficult terrain of north Kashmir. Rifleman Shoban Singh Thapa had joined the Indian Army with the aspiration to serve the nation. On 1 November 2000, while serving with 3/4 Gorkha Rifles in the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district, he made the supreme sacrifice during an operation against terrorists.
Rifleman Shoban Singh Thapa hailed from Banara village in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. He was born on 1 March 1981 to Shri Jaman Singh Thapa and Smt Devki Devi. He had an elder brother, Umed Singh Thapa.
His aspiration to wear the uniform led him to join the Indian Army at a young age. He was recruited into 3/4 Gorkha Rifles on 13 July 1998. After completing his military training, he was posted to Jammu and Kashmir, where his unit was engaged in operational duties.
Operation in the Tangdhar Sector
In 2000, 3/4 Gorkha Rifles was deployed in the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district as part of Operation Rakshak. The area, close to the Line of Control, demanded constant vigilance and readiness from the troops operating there.
On 1 November 2000, the unit received intelligence about the presence of armed terrorists in its area of responsibility. An operation was planned, and Rifleman Shoban Singh Thapa was part of the team tasked with the mission.
During the operation, the terrorists attempted to break out of the security forces' ambush, triggering a fierce exchange of fire.
Rifleman Shoban Singh Thapa and his fellow soldiers held their ground and engaged the terrorists. During the gunfight, he sustained critical injuries. Despite the efforts to save him, his injuries proved fatal, and he made the supreme sacrifice at just 19 years of age.
Remembering a Young Gorkha Soldier
Rifleman Shoban Singh Thapa's journey in the Army was short, but it represented a commitment made at a young age and carried into one of the most challenging operational environments in the country.
For his parents, Shri Jaman Singh Thapa and Smt Devki Devi, and his elder brother, Umed Singh Thapa, his loss was immeasurable. His family remembers a young man who chose the path of military service and never returned from his deployment.
More than two decades have passed since that operation in Tangdhar. Yet, the name of Rifleman Shoban Singh Thapa deserves to remain part of the record of soldiers who served and made the supreme sacrifice in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Honour Post pays tribute to Rifleman Shoban Singh Thapa of 3/4 Gorkha Rifles. His courage, service and sacrifice will continue to be remembered with honour.
