Sukhjit Singh (soldier)

Brigadier Sukhjit Singh, MVC, was an officer of the Indian Army who served with The Scinde Horse. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry, for his leadership and courage in facing the enemy during the Battle of Basantar in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Brigadier

Sukhjit Singh

MVC
Born15 Oct 1934
Kapurthala, Punjab, India
Allegiance India
Service/branch Indian Army
Rank Brigadier
UnitScinde Horse
Battles/warsBattle of Basantar - Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Awards Maha Vir Chakra[1]
Alma materThe Doon School
Indian Military Academy

Early life

Brigadier Sukhjit Singh was born on October 15, 1934, in Kapurthala, Punjab, India to the erstwhile royal family of Kapurthala. He was educated at The Doon School in Dehradun, and then received military training at the Indian Military Academy.[2]

Military career

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Brigadier Sukhjit Singh held the rank of Lt. Colonel. In the Battle of Basantar, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh was in command of The Scinde Horse (14 Horse) armored regiment, which was deployed in Shakargarh. On the night of December 8, the regiment crossed into Pakistani territory and established itself near Nainan Kot. On December 10, Pakistani forces launched a powerful armored counterattack which Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh's regiment successfully resisted. Leading from the front, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh directed his tanks with great skill. His unit forced the Pakistani force to retreat after the loss of only one tank. The next day, under heavy artillery and mortar fire, Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh led an operation to capture enemy tanks at Malakpur. In the ensuing engagement, his regiment destroyed eight Pakistani tanks and captured one officer, two junior commissioned officers and two other soldiers.

Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh later received the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, in recognition of his efforts in the Battle of Basantar.[3][4][5] Lt. Col. Sukhjit Singh eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier.

See also

References
  1. "LT COL SUKHJIT SINGH MAHA VIR CHAKRA". Indian Army, Govt of India official website.
  2. https://in.ambafrance.org/Release-of-Prince-Patron-and-Patriarch-Maharaja-Jagatjit-Singh-of-Kapurthala
  3. "Brig Sukhjit Singh, MVC". The War Decorated India & Trust.
  4. Bhat, Anil (21 December 2017). "India-Pak tank warfare and Pak military's drawbacks". Asian Age.
  5. Singh, Lt Gen Harwant (13 December 2013). "Rare case of courage of conviction". Hindustan Times.
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