Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 9

Forty-four years after he spearheaded the Indian Army’s charge to Dacca (now Dhaka) during the 1971 Bangladesh campaign, one of the country’s most highly decorated soldiers marched into oblivion.Brig Sant Singh, twice decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), the second highest award for gallantry, passed away here last night. He was 94 years old and had been ailing for some time.Brig Sant Singh is survived by his daughter Satinder Kaur, who is married to a Brigadier.Hailing from Panjgrain village near Kotkapura, he had settled down in Chandigarh after retirement. The cremation will take place tomorrow.Belonging to the Sikh Light Infantry, he was among the only six individuals to have been awarded the MVC twice. With his demise, only one such recipient now remains alive.During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, he was commanding the FJ Sector in the eastern theatre and his formation achieved spectacular results, advancing 38 miles almost on foot, to secure Mymensingh and Madhopur in eight days. During the advance, in spite of stiff opposition from the enemy, he cleared heavily defended positions at several places, personally leading the troops. His advance paved the way for Indian troops to enter Dacca and he was among the first officers to enter the headquarters of the East Pakistan Commander, Lt Gen AAK Niazi. For his actions, he was awarded the MVC.A framed picture of Niazi and a desktop timepiece, which he seized from Niazi’s office, was his war trophies displayed in his home.Six years earlier, in November 1965, while commanding a Sikh Light Infantry battalion, Sant Singh, then a Lt Col, had evicted Pakistani troops from the OP Hill in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistani troops had encroached on the Indian Territory after the ceasefire. Despite difficult terrain and mine fields, the feature was wrestled back after a bitter hand-to-hand fight. For displaying conspicuous gallantry and leadership in the face of heavy fire, he had received his first MVC.Colonel of the Sikh Light Infantry, Lt Gen NPS Hira has condoled Brig Sant Singh’s death. The entire Sikh Light Infantry fraternity treasures his courage, significant contribution and pays heartfelt tribute to the worthy officer, he said.In his message, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh said Brig Sant Singh was an exceptional soldier, of whom the Army and the nation was proud of and in his death, the country had lost a great soldier, whose services would always be remembered.

Brig Sant Singh

• Brig Sant Singh, twice decorated with the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), the second highest award for gallantry, was 94 years old and had been ailing for some time.
• Belonging to the Sikh Light Infantry, he was among the only six individuals to have been awarded the MVC twice.
• With his demise, only one such recipient now remains alive