Vir Chakra for Manipur’s Braveheart: Constable Deepak Chingakham’s Final Stand in Operation Sindoor
This Independence Day, as the nation’s flag was hoisted and the anthem echoed across the country, one name stood out in the roll call of gallantry: Constable Deepak Chingakham of the Border Security Force. A native of Yairipok Yambem in Manipur’s Imphal East district, Deepak was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra for an act of courage that cost him his life but saved many others.
His moment of glory and sacrifice came during Operation Sindoor, a decisive military action in the aftermath of the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Positioned at a forward Border Outpost in Jammu & Kashmir, Deepak’s unit came under heavy enemy assault. Mortar shells exploded around them, drones loomed overhead, and the threat of infiltration grew with every passing second.
When a mortar blast struck his position, Deepak sustained grievous injuries. Yet, in those critical moments, he refused evacuation. Instead, he crawled back to his post, maintained his weapon, and continued to engage the enemy. His actions provided vital covering fire that allowed his comrades to secure the area and repel the attack. The official citation described his conduct as an example of “supreme valour and unflinching devotion to duty in the face of certain death.”
Deepak’s sacrifice has left a deep mark on Manipur. His body returned home in May draped in the tricolour, received with full military honours at Imphal’s Bir Tikendrajit International Airport. State leaders, BSF officers, and hundreds of citizens paid tribute, their grief matched only by their pride. His father, Chingakham Bombihari, spoke softly but firmly: “He died doing what he believed in protecting his country.”
For the people of Manipur, Deepak’s bravery is a reminder that the state’s sons and daughters stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of India in its defence. In the same operation, another Manipuri, Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik of the Indian Air Force, was also awarded the Vir Chakra one in the skies, the other on the ground, both bound by courage.
The medal now awarded in Deepak’s name cannot bring him back, but it ensures that his deeds will not fade. His courage is now part of the nation’s history, an enduring example of what it means to stand your ground, even in the face of overwhelming danger. As India celebrates its freedom, the story of Constable Deepak Chingakham will live on a tale of duty, sacrifice, and love for the motherland.
His moment of glory and sacrifice came during Operation Sindoor, a decisive military action in the aftermath of the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Positioned at a forward Border Outpost in Jammu & Kashmir, Deepak’s unit came under heavy enemy assault. Mortar shells exploded around them, drones loomed overhead, and the threat of infiltration grew with every passing second.
When a mortar blast struck his position, Deepak sustained grievous injuries. Yet, in those critical moments, he refused evacuation. Instead, he crawled back to his post, maintained his weapon, and continued to engage the enemy. His actions provided vital covering fire that allowed his comrades to secure the area and repel the attack. The official citation described his conduct as an example of “supreme valour and unflinching devotion to duty in the face of certain death.”
Deepak’s sacrifice has left a deep mark on Manipur. His body returned home in May draped in the tricolour, received with full military honours at Imphal’s Bir Tikendrajit International Airport. State leaders, BSF officers, and hundreds of citizens paid tribute, their grief matched only by their pride. His father, Chingakham Bombihari, spoke softly but firmly: “He died doing what he believed in protecting his country.”
For the people of Manipur, Deepak’s bravery is a reminder that the state’s sons and daughters stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of India in its defence. In the same operation, another Manipuri, Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik of the Indian Air Force, was also awarded the Vir Chakra one in the skies, the other on the ground, both bound by courage.
The medal now awarded in Deepak’s name cannot bring him back, but it ensures that his deeds will not fade. His courage is now part of the nation’s history, an enduring example of what it means to stand your ground, even in the face of overwhelming danger. As India celebrates its freedom, the story of Constable Deepak Chingakham will live on a tale of duty, sacrifice, and love for the motherland.
