WEBDESK: The Indian Army is under fire for allegedly covering up the battlefield death of a soldier stationed on the country’s strategic S-400 air defence system.
Sepoy Ram Babu Singh, a native of Bihar, was deployed on the S-400 unit during a major military operation in May 2025, codenamed Operation Sidoor.
Following what sources describe as a “failed operation,” the Indian Army is accused of misrepresenting Singh’s death as a road accident rather than a combat casualty, a move that has reportedly denied his family the full compensation promised by the government.
Initial reports from the Indian military had described Ram Babu Singh as a war casualty.
The S-400 soldier’s death was widely reported in local media, and Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar publicly announced a compensation package of INR 5 million (16,382,930 PKR).
However, the Army later changed its stance, officially classifying Singh’s death as a result of a “physical casualty”, a term used for deaths outside direct combat or operational engagement.
This classification has become the basis for the government’s refusal to pay the promised amount to Singh’s family.
District Officer Manish Kumar confirmed the Army’s revised version: Headquarters has officially stated that Ram Babu’s death is categorised as a ‘physical casualty’. This means the soldier did not die during active combat or operational duty.
He further added that until the Indian Army officially declares Ram Babu as killed in the line of duty in the war, nothing is of any importance. The district administration has no involvement in the matter, he added.
Singh’s widow, Anjali, who is expecting their child, says the situation has left the family traumatised and helpless.
“We never asked for help. The promise came from the government itself. It’s humiliating to now plead for what was already announced. The struggle for justice has been painful.”
Singh’s brother, Akhilesh Kumar, voiced frustration over the politicisation of his brother’s death, “Politicians are using my brother’s death for votes. We will not give up. We’re ready for a long struggle.”
The conflicting statements from the Indian Army and the state government have deepened public suspicion, especially amid a growing number of reports about military fatalities being misclassified.
For now, Singh’s grieving family is left without answers or justice.
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