Wikipedia

Anshuman Singh (soldier)

Anshuman Singh (born 1996) was an Indian Army Doctor in the Punjab Regiment. He was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award, for his exceptional bravery during a major fire incident at Siachen.[1][2]

Captain

Anshuman Singh

KC
Born1996
Bardiha Dalpat, Deoria district, Uttar Pradesh, India
Died19 July 2023 (aged 26)
Siachen Glacier, India
AllegianceIndia India
Service/branch Indian Army
Years of service19 March 2020–19 July 2024
Rank Captain
Service numberMS-20323K
Unit Punjab Regiment
Battles/wars
  • Operation Meghdoot
Awards Kirti Chakra
Relations
  • Ravi Pratap Singh (father)
  • Manju Singh (mother)
  • Smriti Singh (wife)

Early life and education

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Singh was born at Bardiha Dalpat village in Uttar Pradesh in 1996.[3] His parents were Subedar Ravi Pratap Singh, who was a JCO in Indian Army and Manju Devi. He completed his Schooling at Chail Military School in Himachal Pradesh. Then, he cleared the AFMC Exam, to join as a Medical Combat Officer in the Indian Armed Forces. Later he joined the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune for pursuing his MBBS.[4][5][6]

Military career

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After completing MBBS, He got commissioned as a Lieutenant (Medical Officer) in the 26 Punjab Regiment. Later, he was sent to Chandan Complex under Operation Meghdoot.[7]

Siachen Glacier Fire Accident

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Singh was serving in the 26 Punjab Regiment in Siachen Glacier.[8][9][10] On July 19, 2023, at 0300 hours, a devastating fire erupted in the Siachen ammunition depot.[11][12] Soldiers were trapped in a fibre hut, prompting an urgent rescue effort. Captain Anshuman Singh swiftly sprang into action, rushing out of his own fiberglass hut to save them.[13][14] He entered the hazardous area and successfully evacuated five personnel to safety.[15] However, upon realizing that the medical room (MI) was also ablaze, Captain Singh ventured inside to retrieve crucial medical aid box.[16] Tragically, he became trapped and couldn't escape.[17] His body was later recovered from the shelter after the fire had been extinguished, a poignant testament to his ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.[18][19]

Awards and honour

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Singh was posthumously awarded India's second highest gallantry award the Kirti Chakra.[20] Capt Singh's mother and his wife received the award from the Honourable President of India on 5 July 2024.[21]

 
Captain Anshuman Singh receiving Kirti Chakra (Posthumous) on his behalf from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on July 05, 2024

Lucknow Municipal Corporation has installed Capt Singh's statue at the Budheshwar intersection, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.[22] CM of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath unveiled the statue.[23][24] CM had also given an aid of ₹50 lakh to family of Singh.[25][26]

Personal life

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Singh married to Smriti Singh, an engineer, on 10 February 2023.[27][importance?] Capt Singh and Smriti Singh first met in the same Engineering college, from where Smriti graduated. In an interview, Smriti said that they had love at first sight on the first day of college, later Singh joined AFMC and left the engineering college. After that Smriti had waited for eight years to marry Singh.[28][29]

Controversy

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Captain Singh's parents alleged that their daughter-in-law changed the permanent address, Lucknow, to her hometown Gurdaspur in the Army records.[30] They also alleged that she did not give the Kirti Chakra to touch.[31] According to the Indian Army's next of kin criteria, the wife is the NOK. But Singh's parents want to be the NOK alongside Smriti Singh.[32] This became a controversy regarding the policy of NOK.[33][34]

References

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  1. ^ "Captain Anshuman Singh Army Medical Corps Kirti Chakra". SSB Crack.
  2. ^ "Capt Ashuman Singh KC". Honourpoint.
  3. ^ "Captain Anshuman Singh – B3 Batch". Alumni of AFMC.
  4. ^ "'Not Going To Die An Ordinary Death': Widow Of Capt Anshuman Singh Recalls His Supreme Sacrifice". abp LIVE. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  5. ^ "'Spoke about next 50 years of life, home, kids': Captain Anshuman Singh's widow recalls last conversation". Indian Express. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  6. ^ "'Wont die an ordinary death': Widow of Kirti Chakra awardee Anshuman Singh recalls conversation". Financial Express. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Why Captain Anshuman Singh Was Awarded The Kirti Chakra". NDTV.
  8. ^ "Captain Anshuman Singh's widow recalls their first meet: 'Was love at first sight'". India Toady. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Gallantry awardee Army officer's wife shares painful story of love, husband's death at award ceremony". India TV News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Captain Anshuman Singh's widow Smriti Singh recalls their last conversation: 'On July 18… Next day, he died'". Hindusthan Times. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Army Officer Dead, 3 Soldiers Injured In Fire Incident At Siachen Glacier". NDTV.
  12. ^ "Military Digest: Regimental Medical Officers and their saga of bravery". Indian Express.
  13. ^ "Army officer killed, 3 soldiers injured in fire incident in Siachen". Deccan Herald.
  14. ^ "Fire at Siachen post, Capt loses life, 6 get injured". The Tribune.
  15. ^ "Reminiscences of Siachen: When ice was on fire". Firstpost.
  16. ^ "One Army officer died, three soldiers injured in fire accident in Siachen glacier". Economic Time.
  17. ^ "Army officer dies, three others injured in Siachen fire incident". The Hindu.
  18. ^ "'He Gave Up Life To Save Others', Says Wife Of Captain Who Died In Siachen Fire; Receives Kirti Chakra". Times of India. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  19. ^ "'It Was Love At First Sight': Widow Of Soldier Killed In Siachen Fire Shares Their Heartbreaking Story". News18. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Captain Anshuman Singh awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously; his widow recalls their last conversation". The Tribune.
  21. ^ "DETAIL OF GALLANTRY AWARDEE (CHAKRA SERIES) NAME" (PDF). PIB.
  22. ^ "Yogi unveils statute of martyr Captain Anshuman Singh". Hindustan Times.
  23. ^ "Yogi Adityanath Emphasizes Importance of Remembering Heroes". Devdisource.
  24. ^ "A Country Can Only Protect Its Freedom if It Remembers It Past: Adityanath". Latestly.
  25. ^ "CM extends ₹50L aid to kin of Army doc killed in Siachen". Times of India.
  26. ^ "CM unveils statue of Capt Anshuman Singh in Lucknow". Times of India.
  27. ^ "Captain Anshuman Singh's widow Smriti Singh receives Kirti Chakra. How Army veterans reacted | Video". Hindustan Times.
  28. ^ "It was love at first sight: Late Captain Anshuman Singh's widow Smriti Singh shares their heart-touching love story". Times of India.
  29. ^ "Spoke about next 50 years of life, home, kids': Captain Anshuman Singh's widow recalls last conversation". Indian Express.
  30. ^ "Pension, financial aid to kin of dead soldiers given according to records, rules". The Tribune.
  31. ^ "Parents of fallen Siachen hero Captain Anshuman Singh call for reforms in 'Next of Kin' law". PTC News.
  32. ^ "Why Martyr Anshuman Singh's Parents Want Army's Next Of Kin Norms Changed: The Rules & Row Over Aid For Spouse". News 18.
  33. ^ "Couldn't even touch Kirti Chakra, next of kin criteria not correct': Captain Anshuman Singh's parents allege daughter-in-law took away honors". Financial Express.
  34. ^ "Captain Anshuman Singh's parents claim daughter-in-law took Kirti Chakra with her". India Today.
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