Meet Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh: 4 Para Special Forces Commando Who Made the Supreme Sacrifice at 22

In the annals of India’s elite Special Forces, few stories capture the raw courage and youthful determination of Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh. At just 22 years of age, this commando from 4 Para (SF) laid down his life in one of the most harrowing close-combat encounters in recent Kashmir operations. His journey—from a quiet Rajasthan village to the snow-clad heights of Kupwara—embodies the spirit of sacrifice that defines the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment.

Born on 12 August 1997 in Chhawashri village of Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, Chhatrapal Singh came from a family deeply rooted in the soil and in service to the nation. His father, Shri Suresh Kumar Pal, is a farmer; his mother, Smt Shashikala Devi, managed the household. He had one brother, Surya Pratap Singh. Jhunjhunu is renowned for producing generations of soldiers, and young Chhatrapal absorbed the values of discipline and patriotism early. Described by those who knew him as a “gym freak” with a passion for bodybuilding, he built a strong, resilient physique that would later serve him well in the rigours of Special Forces training.

In 2015, at the age of 18, Singh joined the Indian Army and was initially recruited into the Army Service Corps. The routine of logistics work, however, could not contain his adventurous spirit. He volunteered for the Parachute Regiment, underwent the notoriously tough probation, and in 2018 earned the Maroon Beret—the symbol of India’s elite Para Commandos. Posted to 4 Para (Special Forces), he quickly proved himself in counter-insurgency operations across the Kashmir Valley. By April 2020, he had completed over five years of service and was regarded as a dedicated, disciplined soldier with substantial field experience.

Operation Randori Behak: The Mission That Defined His Legacy April 2020 coincided with the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet national security threats did not pause. Intelligence reports revealed a group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control in the Keran sector of Kupwara district. Footprints in the snow and drone imagery confirmed the movement near Jumgund. Regular troops from 8 Jat and Rashtriya Rifles units made initial contacts on 1–4 April, but the infiltrators repeatedly slipped away in the dense, snow-laden terrain.

To deliver a decisive blow, commanders called in the elite 4 Para (SF). On 4 April, two squads of six commandos each were air-dropped by an ALH Dhruv helicopter into waist-deep snow under poor visibility. Singh’s squad, led by Subedar Sanjiv Kumar, included Havildar Devendra Singh, Paratrooper Bal Krishan, Paratrooper Amit Kumar, and Paratrooper Sonam Tshering Tamang. After nearly five hours of trekking through 8–10 feet of snow, Singh, acting as lead scout, spotted suspicious movement. The team confirmed the presence of terrorists and manoeuvred to engage.

Positioning themselves on spurs overlooking a nallah for dominance, the second squad inadvertently stepped onto an ice cornice—an overhanging mass of hardened snow. It collapsed under their weight. Singh and Paratrooper Bal Krishan plunged directly into the frozen mountain stream where the terrorists were hiding. Immediate heavy fire erupted. Subedar Kumar and Paratrooper Amit Kumar rushed to rescue their comrades. Amit provided covering fire with his PIKA gun while Kumar evacuated one scout under intense fire. In the brutal close-quarters battle that followed—at ranges of just 2–3 metres—Kumar neutralised one terrorist at point-blank range and engaged others in hand-to-hand combat. Despite sustaining fatal wounds, the commandos pressed on. Singh fought fiercely but succumbed to his injuries in the battle zone, as did Havildar Devendra Singh and Paratrooper Bal Krishan. The injured Subedar Kumar and Paratrooper Amit Kumar were airlifted but later succumbed. Paratrooper Sonam Tshering Tamang, who killed one terrorist and assisted in evacuations, survived.

By the morning of 5 April 2020, all five terrorists had been eliminated. The operation, conducted at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet in freezing conditions, remains one of the deadliest and most courageous actions by Indian Special Forces in recent years.

Awards and National Recognition For his “conspicuous gallantry, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice,” Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh was posthumously awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry) on Republic Day 2021. The citation was part of a larger batch of gallantry awards approved by the President. Subedar Sanjiv Kumar received the Kirti Chakra (posthumous), while the surviving Paratrooper Sonam Tshering Tamang was decorated with the Shaurya Chakra for his role in the same operation. Other team members were also honoured with Sena Medals.

A Lasting Legacy Chhatrapal Singh’s mortal remains were brought to Jhunjhunu on 7 April 2020 and cremated with full military honours. Tributes poured in from across the country, with social media and defence communities hailing him as the “Jhunjhunu Tiger.” His story is shared in motivational videos, articles, and annual commemorations on his birth anniversary (12 August). Families in Rajasthan and beyond still draw inspiration from his journey, and his parents have been seen receiving honours at various military events.

The operation also highlighted the extraordinary risks taken by India’s Special Forces. Air-dropped into inaccessible terrain, operating in sub-zero temperatures and deep snow, the commandos turned a potentially failed infiltration into a complete success—though at the highest personal cost.

Timeline of Operation Randori Behak

Team Members of the Second Squad and Their Honours

Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh’s life was brief but incandescent. At an age when many are still exploring career paths, he chose the path of highest risk and greatest honour. His story reminds every Indian that freedom is guarded by young men willing to walk into the snow, the darkness, and the fire—knowing they may not return. In the words echoed across defence forums, “If bravery had a face, it would look like Paratrooper Chhatrapal Singh.”