Born in 1999 in the serene Almora district of Uttarakhand, Captain Deepak Singh grew up in a disciplined home, the son of Shri Mahesh Singh, a retired police officer. With two sisters, Manisha and Jyoti, he was nurtured in an environment where values like service, discipline, and integrity were not just taught but lived. From childhood, the dream of wearing the army uniform was firmly rooted in his heart. This wasn’t a wish; it was his calling. 

His determination led him to join the Indian Army through the Technical Entry Scheme (TES). After rigorous training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, he was commissioned in June 2020 into the Corps of Signals, a vital arm ensuring secure communications for the Army in peace and war.

The Soldier and the Sportsman

Even as he mastered the technical and operational demands of military life, Capt. Deepak Singh carried his passion for sports, especially hockey, with him. Hockey’s values of teamwork, discipline, and precision mirrored the qualities that defined his service. His comrades recall a soldier who was tough in the field yet warm in friendship, the kind who inspired trust simply by standing beside you.

Into the Valley of Shadows—48Rashtriya Rifles

After initial service with his parent unit, he was deputed to the 48 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), deployed in Jammu & Kashmir for counter-insurgency (CI) operations. The unit, operating under the Counter Insurgency Force Delta (CIF Delta) of the White Knight Corps, served in one of the most volatile regions of the country, where the Line of Control was alive with ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts. It was here, in the dense and unforgiving terrain of the Shivgarh-Assar forest in Doda, that Capt. Deepak Singh’s courage would be tested in a way few can imagine.

The Assar Operation—August 13–14, 2024

Acting on precise intelligence about terrorist presence, a joint operation was launched by 48 RR and the J&K Police on 13 August 2024. Capt. Deepak Singh commanded two teams tasked with locating and neutralizing the threat. By 19:30 hours, movement was detected. Demonstrating tactical brilliance, he positioned his men to gain maximum advantage. The engagement that followed wounded some militants, forcing them into hiding among the treacherous rocks and boulders of the forest. 

Throughout the night, Capt. Deepak kept his troops vigilant, maintaining operational dominance. At dawn, the systematic search resumed, yielding an M4 assault rifle, ammunition, and grenades critical in reducing enemy capability. But danger still lurked. One injured terrorist, concealed among large boulders, opened sudden fire on the team. A fellow soldier was caught in the kill zone, exposed and vulnerable. In that split second, Capt. Deepak Singh didn’t think of himself; he thought only of his comrade. 

With complete disregard for his own safety, he pushed the soldier to cover, taking the full brunt of enemy fire. Struck by multiple bullets, he could have fallen back. But true to the spirit of the Indian Army, he fought on. Summoning his last reserves of strength, he closed in on the terrorist, returning fire and inflicting fatal injuries. His actions not only saved his comrade’s life but also ensured the success of the mission. Moments later, at the age of 25, Capt. Deepak Singh breathed his last, his duty done to the very end.

Shaurya Chakra – A Nation’s Salute

On 26 January 2025, the nation honored Capt. Deepak Singh posthumously with the Shaurya Chakra, India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award. To his family, he was not just a soldier but a son and brother whose laughter filled their home. To his comrades, he was a dependable leader who never asked them to take a risk he would not take himself. To the people of India, he is now a name etched in the roll of honor, a symbol of selflessness. 

His father, Shri Mahesh Singh, who himself served in uniform as a police officer, now bears the pride and pain of knowing his son gave everything for the nation. His sisters carry forward his memory with quiet dignity, sharing stories of the brother who made them proud every day.

Why We Remember

Heroes like Capt. Deepak Singh remind us that freedom and security come at a price, a price paid in youth, dreams, and lives. His sacrifice is a stark reminder that while we celebrate under the safety of the tricolor, there are men and women standing watch in the most dangerous corners of our nation. 

As the tricolor rises each 15th August, perhaps we will think of him, of a young man from Almora who carried the hopes of a nation on his shoulders and proved, in the ultimate test, that he was worthy of them.