1948 war hero Havaldar (retd) Baldev Singh, who fought four wars against Pakistan, has died at his residence in Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The 93-year-old war hero passed away due to natural causes in his hometown Nowshera on Monday, the spokesman said, adding that his last rites will be performed with full military honours at his village later on Tuesday.
Singh was just 16 years old when he volunteered to join the Bal Sena force under Brigadier Usman, Commander of the 50 Para Brigade, during the battle of Nowshera and Jhangar in 1947-48.
The Bal Sena was a group of local volunteers aged between 12 to 16, who served as despatch runners for the Indian army during the critical moments of the battles with Pakistan in the region.
Later on, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru honoured these Bal Sainik and also provided the opportunity to join the Indian army as regular soldiers.
Singh enlisted in the army on November 14, 1950, and served forces with dedication and valour for nearly three decades, the spokesperson said.
His service spanned multiple wars, including the 1961, 1962, and 1965 India-Pakistan wars.
Despite retiring in October 1969, Singh was recalled during the India-Pakistan war of 1971 when he served in the 11 JAT Battalion (25 Infantry Division) for an additional eight months before returning to civilian life, the spokesman said.
Throughout his career, Singh was the recipient of multiple honours for his service, including recognition from Nehru, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Vice President Hamid Ansari, and several other distinguished leaders.
“Singh’s legacy lives on as a living legend, deeply respected for his service to the country,” the spokesman said.
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