Lieutenant Colonel Megh Singh (–2010) was an Indian military officer. Hailing from
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
, from a Rathore Rajput family
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
, he joined the
Patiala State
Patiala State was a kingdom and princely state in Presidencies and provinces of British India, British India, and one of the Phulkian States, that Instrument of Accession, acceded to the Dominion of India, Union of India upon Indian independence ...
forces and then taken into the 3 Guards(1 Raj Rif). Lt.Col.Megh Singh (also) Maj. Megh Singh was known for creating the
Special forces of India.
Singh died in 2010, at the age of 88.
Military service
Megh Singh was known for creating the Special forces of India. Then Major Megh Singh, who was surpassed for the promotion to Lt.Col. approached
Lt. Gen. Harbaksh Singh and he volunteered to raise a Special Commando for India. Lt. Gen.
Harbaksh Singh
Lieutenant General Harbaksh Singh, VrC (1 October 1913 – 14 November 1999) was an Indian senior military officer. As the commander of the Western Command, Singh commanded the Indian Army and played a key role during the Indo-Pakistani War o ...
accepted Maj.Megh Singh's proposal. Maj Megh Singh raised a special force of volunteers personally chosen by him. The formation was not formally authorized by the Government so it is informally named as the 'Meghdoot force' in the name of Maj.Megh Singh. Harbaksh Singh in his book "''In the Line of Duty: A soldier remembers"'' mentions that Megh Singh was demoted to Major after a court-martial and after his daring raid across the enemy line when he returned with a bullet injury in his thigh, Harbaksh Singh again promoted him as a Lt.Col.
Later Megh Singh joined
Border Security Force
The Border Security Force (BSF) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is responsible for guarding India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It was formed in the wake of the Indo-Pak War of 196 ...
and raised its commando Battalion(the 18th Battalio
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Deputy Inspector General.
Recognition and awards
Singh was awarded a Vir Chakra">
/nowiki>and retired from the rank of Deputy inspector general of police">Deputy Inspector General.
Recognition and awards
Singh was awarded a Vir Chakra for his bravery in battle. His Vir Chakra Citation reads as under citation:
"Lieutenant Colonel Megh Singh, then a Major, with a Brigade in Jammu and Kashmir (state)">Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir may refer to:
* Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), a region administered by India as a union territory since 2019
* Jammu and Kashmir (state), a region administered by India as a state from 1952 to 2019
* Jammu and Kashmir (prin ...
, successfully conducted three important raids into enemy territory from 1 to 11 September 1965. On 2 September, his force blew up a big culvert on the Kotli Bandigopalpur road, disrupting the enemy's line of communication inside their territory. On 6 September, his column captured two important picquets, Neja Pir and Ari Dhok. Again on 10 September, his column went two miles deep into enemy territory and effected the Uri-Poonch link-up at Kahuta in spite of heavy enemy fire.
In all these actions, by his exemplary courage and initiative, Lieutenant Colonel Megh Singh inspired confidence in the volunteers under him, causing confusion and casualties in enemy camps and facilitating the success of the brigade's operational plan."