Army Officer Follows in His Father’s Footsteps, Dies in J&K Gunfight
In a rare and poignant tale, Colonel Manpreet Singh of the 12th Battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry followed in his late father’s footsteps by serving in the same unit. Tragically, Colonel Manpreet was killed in a gunfight with militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday morning.
Born into a humble family in Paravunjian village near Mullanpur Garibdas town in Mohali district, Colonel Manpreet’s home was a modest reflection of his own beginnings. His father, Lakhmir Singh, served as a Naik in the 12th Sikh Infantry before his passing in 2014. However, he lived to witness his son become an officer in the same battalion.
The news of Colonel Manpreet’s death has plunged his family into immense grief. At his home in Paravunjian village, his brother Sandeep Singh and sister Sandeep Kaur are overwhelmed with sadness. Their mother, Manjeet Kaur, sits quietly in a room surrounded by grieving relatives, reminiscing on happier times captured in a large family photo hanging on the wall.
The fallen officer’s close friend Shivani recalls Colonel Manpreet’s keen interest in photography, always carrying a camera wherever he went. He even worked with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Africa, capturing countless moments through his lens. The two friends had previously worked together as interns at a firm of chartered accountants in Chandigarh in the early 2000s.
Colonel Manpreet’s journey to becoming an officer began with his schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mullanpur, followed by his B.Com degree from ST College, Chandigarh. After clearing the Combined Defense Services (CDS) exam, he joined the Indian Military Academy in 2004. He passed out in June 2015 and went on to join the 12 Sikh Regiment.
In 2017, Colonel Manpreet led the battalion 19 RR that successfully killed Burhan Wani in Kashmir. His bravery in the line of duty earned him the prestigious Army Medal for Gallantry in 2021, recognizing his valorous actions in eliminating two terrorists in a gunfight.
Sandeep Kaur, Colonel Manpreet’s sister, shares that they had planned to meet him in Jammu and Kashmir in October, as they expected him to take over a new posting in the region. She fondly remembers their last conversation on Rakshabandhan.
Colonel Manpreet’s body is expected to arrive in Chandigarh on Thursday, and the family intends to perform his last rites in the village on Friday afternoon. He leaves behind his wife, Jagmeet Grewal, and their two young children, six-year-old Kabir Singh and two-year-old Bani Kaur.
The news of Colonel Manpreet Singh’s untimely demise serves as a somber reminder of the sacrifices made by military personnel and the profound impact their service has on their families.