Lt Satbir, the only one from Edu Corps to be decorated twice

Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)

Manipur was incorporated in the Indian Union in 1949 as a Union Territory. It was upgraded to a full-fledged state in 1972. Insurgency in Manipur is an ongoing armed conflict between India and a number of insurgent or rebel groups. The rise of ethnic groups such as Paite, Vaiphei, Pangals, Nagas, Kukis and Hmars only compounded the problems of the Government of India. Bishnupur district of Manipur remains a hotbed of insurgency where the Indian Army along with Assam Rifles is engaged in counter-insurgency operations. 12 Maratha Light Infantry (MLI) was deployed in the Bishnupur area in 2007.

Lieutenant (Lt) Satbir Singh, son of Ch Man Singh, a Malik Jat, was born at Thua village in Jind district on February 4, 1981. After matriculation from the village High School, Satbir passed Class XII from Arya Senior Secondary School, Narwana, and B.Sc from Government College, Jind. A man with a literary mindset and an urge to serve the country in Oval Greens, Satbir joined Army Education Corps as a Havildar. Satbir had officer-like qualities even more than what the services look for and was selected in the Services Selection Board. After one-year training as technical graduate, he was commissioned in Army Education Corps on December 12, 2007. Subsequently, Lt Satbir was posted to 12 MLI on cross attachment for two years. 

It was while with 12 MLI that Lt Satbir was awarded the Sena Medal and the coveted Shaurya Chakra for his bravery; the only one from Army Education Corps to have been decorated twice for gallantry. The exploits of Lt Satbir Singh are recorded in the Digest of Service of 12 MLI. 

Destiny has strange designs of unfolding itself. Lt Satbir was to get married on March 18, 2009, but his destiny had something very different, diagonally opposite, in store for him.

Sandeep, his younger brother, recalls: “Satbir Bhai Sahab’s marriage was fixed for March 18, 2009. Wedding cards had been distributed and all arrangements were being made. On March 10, Bhai Sahab called up and said that his reliever is joining a fortnight later than the scheduled date. He told us to postpone the date of his marriage to any day after March 25. The marriage was re-fixed for April 4. On the early morning of March 19, we got a call from 12 Maratha Battalion informing us that ‘kal sham’ Lt Satbir died fighting terrorists in Manipur”. ‘Kal sham’, incidentally, was the ‘sham’ of March 18, 2009, when Lt Satbir Singh was to tie the nuptial knot. 

There are very few gallantry award winners from Indian Army’s Education Corps but none decorated twice — Lt Satbir Singh, in November 2008, was awarded the Sena Medal (gallantry) and just four months later, he was awarded a well-deserved Shaurya Chakra.

(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)

An account of his gallantry in Digest of Service of 12 MLI reads

On November 29, 2008, based on specific information about the presence of armed terrorists in Bomdiar village in Bishnupur district of Manipur, Lt Satbir Singh, along with a team each of his Ghatak Platoon and Police Commandos, launched a joint operation in the village. Immediately, the teams together laid multiple ambushes on all exit routes from the village. 

The team led by Lt Satbir spotted two suspects and challenged them to stop. The surprised terrorists opened fire at the party, which pinned down Lt Satbir's buddy Lance Naik Mahadik in the open. Lt Satbir swiftly maneuvered to the flank and killed the terrorist. With total disregard to personal safety, he not only saved the life of a soldier but also along with his buddy chased the fleeing terrorists and managed to kill the other terrorist. The operation resulted in the recovery of one magazine of 9 mm live rounds and one hand grenade.

Lt Satbir led his team from the front and displayed leadership qualities and personal courage of a high order for which he was awarded the Sena Medal (gallantry).

In yet another instance on March 18, 2009, at 8.45 pm, Lt Satbir's patrol established a mobile check post at the Naurem Bridge near Bomdiar. He deployed the party tactically to cover the area around. From this group, sepoy Chandrakant was tasked with signalling vehicles to stop. While trying to stop a jeep, sepoy Chandrakant was fired at by the terrorists from the vehicle. He sustained a gunshot wound on his left thigh and fell on the road. Lt Satbir returned the fire and with total disregard to personal safety pulled the sepoy to cover. In the process, he also sustained a gunshot wound on the left shoulder and the armpit but refused to get evacuated. He ordered the search party to cover him and continued firing at the terrorists till he fell unconscious, thereby destroying the vehicle and forcing the terrorists to flee. While being evacuated to the nearest civil hospital, Lt Satbir breathed his last en route. Next day, during search, the body of a slain terrorist killed by Lt Satbir along with an AK-47 rifle and a magazine full of live rounds was recovered. For his conspicuous bravery, determined perseverance, unmatched camaraderie and supreme sacrifice in the best traditions of the Indian Army, Lt Satbir Singh was awarded the Shaurya Chakra, posthumously.