Naik Deepak Singh was born on 15 July 1989 in Fanunda village in Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh. Son of Gajraj Singh and Saroj Devi, he joined the Army (Army Medical Corps) in 2012 at the age of 21 years. After serving for some years, he got married to Rekha Singh, on 30 November 2019. Post-training, he served in various Army hospitals which included Army Base hospital, 426 Field Hospital and 414 Field Hospital. On 30 January 2019, Naik Deepak Singh got posted to 16 Bihar battalion, deployed in Eastern Ladakh.
Since early June 2020, the tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was building up due to construction work in Galwan valley close to the road going from Leh to Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO). The Chinese had a serious objection to the construction of a bridge across the Galwan River into the Aksai Chin area. The area held strategic importance to India as well as China as it dominated the road from Leh to DBO an airstrip of military significance to India.
There had been many rounds of talks between senior military officials from both sides to defuse the tension. On 15/16 June 2020 night, hectic Chinese activity was noticed across the bridge in Galwan Valley. The Indian Army decided to take it up with Chinese forces to ask them to respect the LAC and adhere to the position agreed upon during the talks. A team of medics including Naik Deepak were dispatched to the MI (Medical Inspection) room close to the Point 14, the place of likely conflict. Singh who was loading more medical boxes, surmised it was not a minor scuffle and could result in heavy casualties.
An altercation during the discussion led to a scuffle that turned violent. The Chinese soldiers attacked Col Santosh Babu and his men with deadly clubs, rods and stone pelting. The Indian soldiers were greatly outnumbered and the Chinese attack seemed pre-meditated. As the clashes escalated, Naik Deepak Singh and other soldiers joined the beleaguered Indian troops. The clashes went on for hours. The Indian soldiers pushed the Chinese back. Six Chinese personnel including their commanding officer were so seriously injured they could not beat a retreat.
The Commanding Officer ordered Deepak Singh to come forward to the scene of skirmish. Upon arrival, he administered first aid to the Chinese commanding officer. He then attended to the other Chinese soldiers. The interpreter was badly injured and not coming to his senses. No one could explain to the Chinese that the Indians wanted to calm things down. The Chinese got reinforcements who were well equipped with clubs wrapped in barbed wire. In the skirmishes between the two sides, Deepak Singh also got seriously injured but continued rendering medical support to the injured Chinese and Indian soldiers. It is believed he was captured, made to treat more Chinese soldiers and then killed.
By 10.30 pm, the situation became quiet and a search started for the missing soldiers. When the search party spotted pieces of used cotton wool and tincture bottles, it realised the injured soldier must be Deepak Singh. The search party carried him to the MI Room where the doctor declared him dead.
Deepak managed to save several lives before he lost his. For his courageous action under fire, he was awarded Vir Chakra posthumously which was received by his wife, Rekha. Deepak’s father was unable disraught on hearing the news of his son`s death.
Deepak is survived by his father and wife. Rekha chose to pursue a career in the armed forces. He had dreams that pushed her to make it to the Indian Army. Rekha says: “My husband’s martyrdom and patriotism prepared me to quit as a teacher and become an officer in the army”. She became a lieutenant in the Indian Army.