Lieutenant Colonel Shanti Swarup Rana was an Indian military officer, who was commissioned on 11 June 1977, into the 3rd Battalion of the Bihar Regiment.

Youngest among his four brothers and three sisters, Lt Col Rana had his early education in a Govt School in Rampur, in Hoshiarpur district.

On 2 November 1996, Lt Col Swarup Rana while serving with 13 Rashtriya Rifles was entrusted with the task of destroying two terrorist camps in the Haphruda forest of Kupwara District in Jammu & Kashmir.

When one more terrorist advanced towards the soldiers, Lt Col Rana without caring for this own life, charged and killed him in a hand-to-hand encounter.

[6] Lt Col Rana was given the nation's highest peace time gallantry award, "Ashok Chakra" (posthumous) for his exceptional bravery, indomitable spirit, leadership and supreme sacrifice.