Narinder Singh Sandhu

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and was mentioned in dispatches. He transferred to the Dogra Regiment in 1970, and it was for his performance as commanding officer of the 10th Battalion, Dogra Regiment during an assault on a fortified Pakistan Army position that he was awarded the MVC. He retired as a brigadier and was active in veterans' and gallantry award recipients' matters until his death of colorectal cancer

Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.^[1] He attended Khalsa College, Amritsar. His wife's name was Harinder, and they had two children: a son, Sandeep; and a daughter, Mandeep; both were born in 1965.^[2] Mandeep married Lieutenant General Alok Singh Kler.^[3] Sandhu's uncle and younger brother also served with distinction in the Indian Army.^[1]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965,^[1] during which he participated in the Battle of Asal Uttar on 8–10 September 1965,^[3] and his unit was responsible for destroying several Pakistani M47 Patton tanks for which he was mentioned in dispatches.^[1][5] He transferred to the Dogra Regiment in 1970.^[1][4]

Operation Cactus-Lilly,^[2] his battalion was tasked to capture an enemy position in the Western Sector, which was located at the eastern end of a bridge over the Ravi River at Dera Baba Nanak. Control of the bridge was considered strategically important because it enabled the Pakistan Army to launch an offensive into India, potentially threatening Pathankot, Beas City and Amritsar.^[1]

anti-tank weapons,^[6][2] and it was strongly held. At 17:30 on 5 December 1971, Sandhu led about 420 men of his battalion in the assault, initially mounted on 21 tanks. The tanks became bogged in the marshes along the Ravi River, so they dismounted and made the remaining 5 km (3.1 mi) to the bridge on foot. Surprising the defenders with a charge from 15 m (49 ft), the Indian troops shouted the battle cry "Durga Mata Ki Jai", invoking the Hindu goddess of war, Durga.^[1] Sandhu led the assault with "grim determination",^[1] and without regard for his own safety,^[2] and the assault resulted in fierce fighting during which Sandhu fought from bunker to bunker,^[1] and was wounded in the leg.^[2] Once the position was captured, he then reorganised his troops despite his wound.^[6][2] During the assault the 10th Battalion suffered five killed and ten wounded; 22 Pakistani defenders were killed and 14 were captured. A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was also captured by the Indians.^[1]