Lance Naik Sandeep Singh didn't take part in Surgical Strike: Defence Ministry

Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia on Tuesday denied reports that slain soldier Lance Naik Sandeep Singh was part of the 4 Para (Special Forces) unit which conducted Surgical Strikes at the terror launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar in September 2016.

Sandeep Singh died in an anti-infiltration operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district. He had sustained bullet injuries in the operation in which five terrorists were also killed. Even though he was provided immediate first-aid and admitted to 92 Base Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.

Before his death, he killed two infiltrators trying to cross the border at Tangdhar area of Kupwara.

Speaking to IANS, Rajesh Kalia said reports about Sandeep Singh being a member of the Army’s Special Forces that took part in the September 2016 Surgical Strikes are “unfounded”.

Earlier on Tuesday, paying tributes to the braveheart, Army's Northern Command twitted: “ArmyCdrNC and all ranks salute the supreme sacrifice of L/Nk Sandeep Singh & offer deepest condolences to the family.”

Singh, who is survived by his wife and a five-year-old-son, hailed from Punjab's Gurdaspur. He joined the Indian Army in 2007 and was a part of the unit that conducted the surgical strike against Pakistan in 2016.

On Sunday, the security forces had launched the anti-infiltration operation after noticing suspicious movement along the border. In the operation, they killed five militants who were trying to sneak into the Indian side of the border.

The tension on the border has increased after the recent act of barbarism by Pakistani forces. The Pakistan Border Action (BAT) team had beheaded a BSF soldier.

Reacting to the heinous act, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had issued a stern warning to Pakistan, saying that barbarism meted out by terrorists and the Pakistan Army against Indian soldiers will be avenged.