Triveni Singh (1978-2004) was an officer in the Indian Army, who was posthumously awarded India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra, for his brave action in warding off a terror attack at the Jammu railway station in 2004. He was killed in action on 2 January 2004 while fighting the militants in Jammu.
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Wiki/Biography
Triveni Singh Thakur was born on Wednesday, 1 February 1978 (age 25 years; at the time of death) in Namkum, Bihar (now in Jharkhand), India. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. He completed his schooling at St. Joseph’s Convent Secondary School in Pathankot, Punjab. After completing his schooling, he appeared for and cleared the NDA/NA examination and was selected to join the Naval Academy in Khadakwasla, Pune. However, he did not join the academy as his parents wanted him to complete his graduation in agriculture and help them with their farmland in Punjab. Later, he enrolled at the Punjab Agriculture University in Ludhiana, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in science in agriculture from 1996 to 2000.
A photo of Triveni Singh taken while he was in college
After finishing his formal education, he took the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) and successfully cleared it after which he joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. There, he underwent eighteen months of rigorous military training.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 10″
Weight (approx.): 60 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family & Caste
Triveni Singh belongs to a Hindu Dogra Rajput family.
Parents & Siblings
His father, Janmej Singh Thakur (also spelt as Janmejaya Singh Thakur), retired as an honourary captain from the Indian Army. His mother, Pushplata Singh, is a homemaker.
A photo of Triveni Singh’s parents
He has two sisters, an elder sister named Pooja, and a younger sister named Jyotsana. Pooja lives in the United States of America (USA) and Jyotsana holds a master’s degree in computer applications; she was given a government job in Punjab after Triveni’s death.
One of Triveni Singh’s sister
Wife & Children
He was unmarried.
Fiancée
At the time of his death, Triveni Singh was engaged. He was supposed to get married in 2004; however, Triveni passed away.
Career
Triveni Singh was commissioned into the 5th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) as a lieutenant on 8 December 2001.
A photo of Triveni Singh taken after his commissioning as an officer
Soon after his commissioning, he was asked to report for the Young Officer’s (YOs) course at the Army War College’s Infantry School in Madhya Pradesh. Thereafter, he reported at the Junior Leaders Wing in Belgaum, Karnataka, where he underwent a rigorous training module for a month. Later, Triveni Singh was posted as the adjutant of his battalion that was deployed in Jammu. Triveni was involved in multiple significant missions in the Jammu and Kashmir region. One of these operations involved tracking and eliminating terrorists responsible for assaulting a Dogra Regiment’s unit barrack in Kashmir.
Triveni Singh’s photo taken in uniform
Military Decoration
Triveni Singh was posthumously awarded India’s highest peacetime gallantry award Ashok Chakra on 26 January 2004. The award was received by his father.
Lt Triveni Singh’s father receiving the Ashok Chakra from President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Death
On 2 January 2004, heavily armed militants stormed the Jammu railway station in a fidayeen attack to kill as many passengers as possible. As soon as the news of the attack broke, Singh volunteered to lead a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) to deal with the militants. Upon receiving orders from his Commanding Officer (CO), Singh rushed to the spot with his men. At the railway station, he instructed some of his troops to cordon off the area to prevent the militants from escaping. At 10.20 pm, a militant hiding below a staircase opened fire at the joint team of cops and army men, resulting in one policeman getting injured. Triveni quickly neutralised the militant and proceeded to find the other one. He suffered a gunshot wound to the lower part of his face while engaging the second militant who was throwing hand grenades and firing his AK 47 from an overbridge. Despite getting grievously wounded, Triveni managed to corner the militant and engaged with him in hand-to-hand combat, ultimately neutralising him. Triveni breathed his last while being taken to a hospital for treatment. As per sources, when a senior army commander met him while Triveni was being taken to a hospital, he saluted the commander and said “Mission Accomplished, Sir.” In an interview, his father talked about receiving the information about Triveni’s death and said,
I noticed a headline scrolling at the bottom of the screen. Then they put out a flash naming the officer; it was my son, Lieutenant Triveni Singh. In my mind, I knew my son was dead. But I did not tell anyone. [After calling his unit] The officer at the other end said Triveni was all right. But I insisted on speaking to his superior. Within fifteen seconds of beginning the operation, Triveni had achieved his target.”
Facts/Trivia
- He was affectionately called Sonu by his friends and family members.
- Triveni Singh was skilled in martial arts and had won numerous accolades in multiple national-level tournaments while he was a student.
A picture of the martial arts medals won by Triveni
- In August 2019, his statue was erected at the Sunjuwan Military Station in Jammu.
A photo of Triveni Singh’s family members and officers of the Indian Army standing next to the statue of Triveni Singh at the Sunjuwan Military Station
- After his demise, the Government of Punjab constructed a school in his memory in his hometown.
- In 2022, the Indian government erected Triveni Dwar in Pathankot, Punjab, in his honour.
Triveni Dwar’s image
- In 2023, his story was depicted in the Amazon miniTV Hindi series Rakshak: India’s Braves.
Actor Varun Mitra as Lt Triveni Singh in the Amazon miniTV series Rakshak: India’s Braves
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn