During his posting to 35 Rashtriya Rifles in May 2016, his unit which was deployed in the Naugam sector in Jammu and Kashmir received information from intelligence about a potential hideout of terrorists in that sector. On the intervening night of May 25th, Hangpan Dada, along with his comrades, led a charge to the hiding spot of terrorists. After reaching there, he spotted four terrorists and tried to block their escape route. Without caring for his own life, he engaged with them and killed two of them in close combat, but was critically injured. On seeing his brave action, the remaining two terrorists got frightened and tried to flee, hiding behind the boulders and trees. But Dada did not stop there and went after them, coming face-to-face with the third terrorist. In a hand-to-hand fight, he killed the third one. Not for a moment did he care about his injury and continued pursuing the fourth terrorist. But unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and made the supreme sacrifice in the process on 26th May 2016. Havaldar Hangpan Dada was given the nation’s highest gallantry award during peace-time operations, “Ashok Chakra”, on the eve of the Independence Day in 2016 which was received by his wife Chasen Lowang Dada.