Education
Brigadier Varinder Singh attended the prestigious Cambrian Hall public school in Dehradun, India. He later attended the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
Brigadier Varinder Singh attended the prestigious Cambrian Hall public school in Dehradun, India. He later attended the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
As a Major, he commanded Operation Rajiv to capture the erstwhile Quaid post (now known as Bana Post) in Siachen area. Brigadier Varinder Singh was commissioned into the 12th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry regiment of the Indian Army, and served in various capacities during his career spanning over three decades. Among other appointments, he also served as Commandant of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry centre, the primary training establishment for new recruits to the regiment.
He was awarded the Sena Medal, for distinguished service of a high order.
During the operation to liberate the former Quaid post, then-Major Varinder Singh was grievously injured, receiving bullet wounds to the chest and torso. He, however refused to be evacuated, and continued to command his troops.
(VrC) Awardee: Brigadier Varinder Singh, VrC, Master of Science
Gazette Notification: 35 President/88, 22.1.88 Operation: -
Date of Award: 26 January 1988
Citation: The adversary taking advantage of bad weather during the middle of April, 1987, established themselves on a dominating feature, "Left Shoulder", in the Siachen Glacier area and started firing with machine guns and rocket launchers preventing maintenance both by surface and air of Indian posts in Bilafondla. This created an adverse tactical position.
On the night of 23 June 1987, the assault team under Major Varinder Singh managed to make an approach adopting the most difficult route to the 700 feet high vertical ice-wall on the Saltoro Ridge, and next night negotiated the ice wall and reached just 200 metres from the top.
The advance was resumed at 2100 hours on 25 June 1987 and under intense fire his party managed to capture the bunker after lobbying grenades at 0200 hours on 26 June 1987. lieutenant was their third night in the open sub-zero temperature. By 0500 hours, Major Varinder Singh"s assault team captured the second bunker after firing twenty rounds of 84 M M Rocket Launcher.
He pressed on the attack, providing supporting fire cover while a small party led by Naib Subedar Bana Singh crawled to the last bunker and after a ferocious charge captured lieutenant
While mopping up operations were in progress, there was a heavy artillery shelling by the adversary"s troops in which the officer was badly wounded. Undeterred by his wounds, Major Varinder Singh assumed control of the Area Top by 1600 hours on 26 June 1987, thus regaining tactical superiority over the adversary.
Major Varinder Singh displayed conspicuous courage and valiant leadership in the face of the adversary.