Srinagar/New Delhi: Colonel Manpreet Singh politely declined a peace posting upon promotion in 2021, telling his superior, "No Sir." Instead, he opted to stay and take leadership of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles, the unit responsible for the deaths of several high-profile terrorists, including Hizbul Mujahideen's Burhan Wani.
Col. Singh, who is survived by his wife and two children aged 6 and 2, was a combat veteran and recipient of the Sena Medal while serving as the second-in-command of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles, a battalion tasked with maintaining security in the areas of South Anantnag, Kokernag, and Verinag Achabal, as well as its higher reaches, all of which have historically been infested with terrorists, especially foreign mercenaries.