Dalvir Singh

Major General Dalvir Singh AVSM, VrC, VSM (born 7 April 1946) is a retired Indian Special Forces officer, a former General Officer of the Indian Army and the recipient of Vir Chakra,^[2] India's third-highest War-time gallantry award. He has commanded the 10th Battalion Special Forces, the elite 52 Special Action Group of the NSG, Kilo Force of the Rashtriya Rifles and the Territorial Army (India), with distinction. After retirement from active military service, he has been serving as the Director Training of Rajasthan Police Training Center Jodhpur.^[3]

Major General Dalvir Singh AVSM, VrC, VSM
Birth name	Dalvir Singh Redhu
Nickname(s)	Saint Soldier
Born	(1946-04-07) 7 April 1946 (age 78)^[1] Loharheri, Rohtak, Haryana, India
Allegiance	Republic of India
Service/branch	Indian Army
Years of service	1967-2004
Rank	Major General
Service number	IC-26279
Unit	10th Battalion Special Forces
Commands held	CO 10th Battalion Special Forces, IG 52 SAG NSG, Deputy Director General (Special Ops) Indian Army, GOC Kilo Force Rashtriya Rifles, ADG Territorial Army (India)
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, NSG OpOperation Black Thunder, Special Operation Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War, OP Rakshak Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir, 2001–02 India–Pakistan standoff
Awards	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vir Chakra, Vishisht Seva Medal
Relations	Tarachand Singh Redhu (father)
Other work	Director Training of Rajasthan Police Training Center(RPTC) Jodhpur

Personal life

Dalvir Singh was born in a Hindu Jat family in the Loharheri ^[4] village, Rohtak in the north Indian state of Haryana, as the son of Tarachand Singh Redhu. After retirement from active military service, in 2004, Dalvir Singh settled in Bikaner in the north-western border state of Rajasthan.^{[citation needed]}

Education

Dalvir Singh is an alumnus of Rashtriya Military School Ajmer where he did his schooling. He graduated from the Indian Military Academy as a Commissioned Officer in 1967.^[5]

Dalvir Singh also has an M.Phil. in Defense Studies and has attended Staff College at Defence Services Staff College. He also did Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow and was selected for the prestigious Strategic Leadership Course at National Defence College (India).^[6]

Military career

Dalvir Singh was commissioned into the Indian Army Corps of Engineers in 1967 as a Second Lieutenant and served in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 as an Army Engineer. In 1972 he opted for the Special Forces and volunteered for probation and cleared it.^[7] After clearing the probation as a Lieutenant, Dalvir Singh joined the 10 SF also known as Desert Scorpions, stationed in the arid State of Rajasthan.^[8]

Dalvir Singh was also one of the pioneer officers who played a vital role when National Security Guard was set up. He was also part of the 52 Special Action Group (SAG) from National Security Guard which specialized in anti-hijack missions and led many covert operations.^[9]

Dalvir Singh famously earned the nickname "Saint Soldier" in Sri Lanka; a name given by LTTE, as he was as humble as a saint in behaviour yet ferocious in battle, like a true soldier. Famous for his humility, he would eat all three meals of the day with his soldiers, every single day in their kitchen.^[10]

Dalvir Singh's peers in the Special Force consider him one of the toughest soldiers in the army.^[11] He, despite suffering from asthma throughout his life, kept on leading missions and maintained the fitness needed for serving in the Special Forces.^[12]

Operation Pawan

Dalvir Singh was the first Indian Special Forces Commanding Officer, along with his unit 10th Battalion Special Forces, to enter Sri Lanka and the last to leave as well. The unit was told that the mission was for 10 to 15 days and can return soon; the unit returned to India after 3 years, from a war-torn Sri Lanka.^[13]

As per orders, Dalvir Singh launched his SF team to hit the militants' HQ in the heart of Jaffna town, for searching the defence and for the capture of LTTE senior leadership, and as preliminary to final assault by the infantry troops. The Op which came to be known as the Jaffna University Helidrop Operation, the H-Hour was set at midnight of 11 October 1987. Led by Major Rajiv Nair, the Team Commander of the 10 SF, the first Stick of forty were inserted in the first flight of 2 Mi-8s. As the SF troop tried to hold their ground, waiting for the rest of the detail to reinforce, however, they came under sniper fire. Later on, it came to light that there was an intel leak about the conduct of the OP and there was also confusion about the number of LTTE cadres present at the site.^[14]

The LTTE which knew beforehand about the Op as they had tapped into Indian military communication, had already moved in snipers armed with telescopic sights. As the battle raged, they were able to inflict 6 casualties on the SF troops trying to hold the ground. The SF squad of 80, instead of the preplanned 120, was heavily outnumbered yet managed to move out of the open ground and sought refuge in an abandoned house where they holed up while fighting for the next 18 hours, awaiting rescue.

The news of the ambush reached Dalvir Singh and he immediately volunteered to move with the columns of infantry to the area, to establish contact with his SF troop. With utter disregard to his own safety, Dalvir Singh led his relief team to the objective in the face of heavy militant fire. On the way, he spotted the tank troop commanded by Maj. Anil Kaul, and incorporated them into the rescue plan. They came under heavy fire and the tank commander was incapacitated and Dalvir Singh who had never operated tanks before had to take up the command of the tank troops as well and directed them to the designated site.^[15][16]

Dalvir Singh and his relief troops fought for 2 days and extricated the beleaguered SF team of 74 along with its 6 casualties, fighting their way out of the militants' cordon, to the safety of the Palay military headquarters.^[17][18]

Dalvir Singh was awarded Vir Chakra for volunteering and successfully rescuing his soldiers, and for displaying conspicuous courage and valiant leadership in the face of strong militant opposition,^[19][20] as per his award citation.^[21]

Higher Command

After leading operations in Sri Lanka as a Commanding Officer, Dalvir Singh also served as Brigade Commander (Field & CI), Sub Area Commander (J&K), Deputy. Director General (Special Ops), Division Commander in OP Rakshak & OP Parakram. He also commanded the elite 52 SAG of National Security Guards, as well as the Counter Insurgency Kilo Force of Rashtriya Rifles which handle Kupwara, Baramulla and Srinagar regions. He also headed India's Territorial Army as its Additional Director General.^[22][23]

Dalvir Singh is also credited as one of the core officers who set up and modernized the training strategies for National Security Guards.^[24] He is also credited for raising the training standards of the Territorial Army (India) while he served as its Additional Director General.^[25]

 

Rank Insignia of a Major General of the Indian Army

Dalvir Singh finally retired at the rank of Major General even though he was approved for the rank of Lieutenant General, due to personal reasons in 2004.^[26][27]

Post Military Career

Dalvir Singh, after his retirement from active military service, raised the Commando Training division under Rajasthan Police Training Centre in 2007.^[28] He has been serving as its Director Training since then.^[29] He also raised Thar Falcons, an anti-terror police unit,^[30] and under his tutelage, they got selected for guarding Cairn India Oil Field in Barmer, Rajasthan.^[31][32]

Honours and decorations

Vir Chakra Citation

CITATION
Lieutenant Colonel Dalvir Singh

Lieutenant Colonel Dalvir Singh, Commanding Officer, 10 Para Commando was deployed in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. He launched his team of para commandos to hit the militants' headquarters in the heart of Jaffna town, for searching the defence, preliminary to the final assault. As the militants were very strong, the link-up of our forces with the para commandos was not successful. The officer volunteered to move with columns of infantry and armour to the objective area, to establish contact with the para commandos and, with utter disregard to his own danger, led his team to the objective in the face of heavy militant fire. He extricated the commando team, along with its casualties, fighting his way out of the militants' cordon to safety.

Lieutenant Colonel Dalvir Singh thus displayed conspicuous courage and valiant leadership in the face of strong militant opposition.

^[33][34]

Dalvir Singh was also awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 1998 for commanding the 52 SAG of the National Security Guards with distinction, and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal^[35] in 2002^[36] for successfully commanding the Kilo Force.^[37]

Dalvir Singh was also honoured with the Mirza Raja Jai Singh I Award by the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum Trust, for his distinguished service in the Indian Armed Forces.^[38] The annual event is held on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Brigadier Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh Maha Vir Chakra of Jaipur who incidentally was also once the Commanding Officer^[39] of Dalvir Singh's parent unit, the 10th Battalion Special Forces.^[40]

See also

• Jaffna University Helidrop
• Special Forces of India
• Special Protection Group

References

1. "Col Dalvir Singh". The War Decorated India & Trust. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
2. "LT COL DALVIR SINGH- VIR CHAKRA". Gallantry Awards. Govt of India. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
3. "Raj Police strikesgold at national commando meet".
4. "HAJJAR DISTRICT GAZETTEER" (PDF). TABLE XXXV: 630. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
5. "Distinguished Alumni-Maj Gen Dalvir Singh, AVSM, VrC, VSM". rashtriyamilitaryschoolajmer.in. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
6. "Major General Dalvir Singh AVSM, VrC, VSM-Principal Consultant". Retrieved 8 February 2021.
7. Katoch, Prakash. India's Special Forces History and Future of Indian Special Forces (Kindle ed.). India: Vij Books.
8. Kumar, Colonel. Awadhesh. "Indian Army Special Forces Story : From HQ PARA Commando Task Force To AFSPD". indianpolitics.co.in. On completion of raising, the role of 9 PARA was vetted in a major Corps level Ex BETWA, thereafter the Unit was moved to a place near Jammu. By 01 Aug 1967, the Unit was divided in virtually half to raise two light Commando battalions 9 PARA and 10 PARA. The new Unit 10 PARA moved to Rajasthan.
9. Katoch, Prakash Chand (2013). India's Special Forces History and Future of Indian Special Forces (Kindle ed.). Vij Books India.
10. Wali, Sumit. "10 Para (SF) - Mustaffa of Desert Warfare". indiandefencereview.com. LTTE was so terrorised by 10 Para (SF) that ADC to LTTE chief Prabhakaran confessed to my source that `there is only one unit that we fear the most – Saint Soldier's unit`. These were the words he used to describe the Commanding Officer and his paltan. One can imagine the respect 10 Para (SF) had earned.
11. "Dial 9 for Assistance From The Mountain Rats". indianpolitics.co.in. Here it needs to be added that for the display of sustained courage, distinct from the courage displayed on the spur of the moment, over a 24 hour period, Lt Col Dalvir Singh, the Commanding Officer during OP Pawan definitely deserved a Param Vir Chakra instead of the Vir Chakra awarded.
12. Katoch, Prakash Chand (2013). India's Special Forces History and Future of Indian Special Forces (Kindle ed.). Vij Books India.
13. Katoch, Prakash Chand (2013). India's Special Forces History and Future of Indian Special Forces (Kindle ed.). Vij Books India.
14. "Mayanmar Ops lend a voice to bring Special Forces under one command". Retrieved 8 February 2021.
15. Gautam Das, Mrinal K.Gupta-Ray (2008). Srilanka Misadventure India's Military Peace-keeping Campaign, 1987-1990. Har-Anand Publications. pp. 109, 110. ISBN 9788124113639.
16. Kaul, Anil (23 August 2008). Better Dead Than Disabled. Parity Paperbacks. p. 130. ISBN 9788188888085.
17. Katoch, Prakash Chand (2013). India's Special Forces History and Future of Indian Special Forces (Kindle ed.). Vij Books India.
18. Kochhar, Nair, Lt Col Atul, Lt Col BR. Valiant Deeds, Undying Memories The Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka, Op Pawan. Notion Press.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
19. Katoch, Ghanshyam Singh. "INGLORIOUS ANNIVERSARIES I – THE JAFFNA UNIVERSITY RAID, 12 OCT 1987". USI. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
20. "India's 'dirty little war' in Jaffna, heroism amid ineptitude & new friendships under fire". Retrieved 23 December 2020.
21. "A short, hot day in Kokkuvil". fountainink.in.
22. "Major General Dalvir Singh AVSM, VrC, VSM-Principal Consultant". Retrieved 8 February 2021.
23. Singh, Lieutenant Colonel Surender (27 June 2020). Territorial Army Gateway for Civilians to Army (Paperback ed.). Notion Press.
24. "Sudarshan Lecture Series". The Black Dungarees (3). May 2017.
25. Singh, Lieutenant Colonel Surender (27 June 2020). Territorial Army Gateway for Civilians to Army (Paperback ed.). Notion Press.
26. "Major General Dalvir Singh (Retd), PVSM, VrC, VSM". The Huffington Post.
27. "Major General Dalvir Singh AVSM, VrC, VSM-Principal Consultant". Retrieved 8 February 2021.
28. "Rajasthan Police Training Centre, Jodhpur". Retrieved 11 July 2022.
29. Singh, Lieutenant Colonel Surender (27 June 2020). Territorial Army Gateway for Civilians to Army (Paperback ed.). Notion Press.
30. "'Thar Falcons' to guard Rajasthan onshore oilfield". THE HINDU. Business Line. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
31. "Thar Falcons to guard India's biggest oil fields at Barmer". TIMES OF INDIA. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
32. The team had been through persistent rigorous training at RPTC, Jodhpur. Officials also acknowledged the contribution made by the team of Major General (retired) Dalveer Singh in training the commando team at RPTC. https://daily.bhaskar.com/news/RAJ-JPR-raj-police-strikesgold-at-national-commando-meet-1890476.html
33. Datta, Saikat. "These tales of bravery of the Indian army would have been better with less bias and more accuracy". Scroll.in. The role played by Lt Col Dalvir Singh, the commanding officer of 10 Para (Commando), is also largely absent. Dalvir Singh retired as a Major General and confirmed to me once again that Major Rajeev Nair was the team commander. Significantly, Dalvir also played a key role in extricating the men who were trapped behind enemy lines. Dalvir Singh also won a Vir Chakra. Battling attacks of asthma, he fought through the LTTE defences and brought his men out.
34. "LT COL DALVIR SINGH- VIR CHAKRA". Gallantry Awards. Govt of India. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
35. "Defence Investiture awards 2002". samariaf0.tripod.com.
36. "The President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam presenting AVSM to Maj. General. Dalvir Singh at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Nov 02, 2002". Digital Photo Library Rashtrapathi Bhavan. The President’s Secretariat. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
37. "PRESIDENT CONFERS GALLANTRY AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS-ATI VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL: 9. Major General Dalvir Singh (IC-26279), Para/HQ CIF (K)". archive.pib.gov.in/.
38. "Sawai Jaipur Awards". royaljaipur.in. The City Palace Jaipur. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
39. "A decorated soldier of the 1971 Indo-Pak war". Retrieved 2 April 2021. In June 1967, he volunteered for the new Para Commando Unit and was posted to 10 Para Commando as Second in-Command. The following year he became the Commanding Officer
40. "Sawai Jaipur Awards 2020: Awards, Winners & Book Launch". Jaipur Beat.com. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2021.

Bibliography

• Gen. P. C. Katoch, Saikat Datta, (2013). India's Special Forces: 1: History and Future of Special Forces. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd. ISBN 9789382573975
• Col. Anil Kaul, (2006). Better Dead Than Disabled. Parity Paperbacks. ISBN 9788188888085
• Col. V S Yadav, (2012) Employment of Special Forces: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future. Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (New Delhi). ISBN 9789381411698
• Depinder Singh, (1992) The IPKF in Sri Lanka. Trishul Publications. ISBN 9788185384054
• Raj K. Mehta (2010) Lost Victory- The Rise & Fall of LTTE Supremo, V. Prabhakaran. Pentagon Security International. ISBN 9788182744431
• Stephen Heynes (2016) The Bleeding Island-Scars and Wounds. Partridge Publishing India. ISBN 9781482874785
• Sumit Walia (2021) Unbattled Fears: Reckoning the National Security. Lancer Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 9788170623311

External links

• NSG
• Black Thunder II : Operation to remember
• After 16 days of bloody battle, IPKF finally captures LTTE stronghold Jaffna
• Commando operation to capture LTTE leadership turns disastrous