(Effective date of the award 26th May 1988)
Captain Pratap Singh was deployed as an
observation post officer SIACHEN area in
April 1985.
The
adversary made repeated attempts to retake a
key post vital for our defences of Siachen,
without success. Their last attempt to take a
post was on 9th May, 1988, when they fixed
four ropes and a ladder-system on the
ice-wall below the post for the purposes.
This attack was successfully beaten back by
our forces. The ropes and the ladder-system
fixed by the adversary, however, remained in
position, making it possible for them to use
it again in their fresh attempts to take the
post. It was imperative that the fixed ropes
were cut and the ladder unfixed to prevent
fresh attempts. On the 18th May, 1988,
Second-Lieutenant Ashok Choudhary was able to
reach and cut four of the ropes. On the 26th
May, 1988, it was decided to cut the
remaining two ropes and unfix the ladder.
Captain Pratap Singh undertook this mission
with the help of a jawan, descending the ice
wall. On reaching the location, Captain
Pratap Singh found a large quantity of
ammunition and grenades lying at the head of
the ropes. While examining the same, a
grenade booby-trapped him, severely wounding
his right arm and chest. Despite being badly
wounded the brave officer crawled forward to
the fixed ropes and cut them with his knife.
Then he unfixed the ladder system and let it
fall down the ice wall. Then the gallant
officer inched back to his own rope to come
up the ice wall to return to the post, but
collapsed due to his severe wounds and made
the supreme sacrifice of his life for the
nation.
Captain
Pratap Singh thus displayed conspicuous
gallantry in eliminating a great threat to a
key post of our vital defence of Siachen
Glacier at the cost of his life.
Nov
22-Pres/89-President is pleased to approve
the award of Maha Vir Chakra to the under
mentioned person for acts of conspicuous
gallantry. 
