MAJOR SONAM WANGCHUK On 30 May, 1999, Major Sonam Wangchuk of Indus Wing, Ladakh Scouts, was leading a Column for occupation of the Ridge Line on the Line of Control (LoC). While moving towards the LoC, the enemy ambushed the Column by firing at them from a vantage position. Major Sonam Wangchuk held his Column together and led a raid on the enemy position from a flank, supported by artillery fire, killing two enemy personnel. The officer also recovered one HMG (Heavy Machine Gun), one UMG (Universal Machine Gun), ammunition, controlled stores, as well as three dead bodies of the enemy. Thereafter, he gathered all forces in the Chorbatla axis in the Batalik sector and cleared the axis up to the LoC, of all enemy intrusions and at a great risk to his life. For gallantry, Major Sonam Wangchuk was honoured with the Maha Vir Chakra. MAJOR RAJESH SINGH ADHIKARI On 30 May 1999, Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari of 18 Grenadiers (Mech. Inf.) laid down his life in the attempt to capture the Tololing Feature. His task was to secure the initial foothold by capturing its forward spur where the enemy held a strongly fortified advance position. The post was located in a rough, mountainous terrain. While leading his team towards the objective, he was fired at from two mutually supporting bunkers. The Major immediately directed the rocket launcher detachment to engage the bunker, rushed in and killed two intruders in close quarter combat. Despite suffering severe bullet injuries, Major Adhikari continued to direct and guide his team. Refusing to be evacuated, the officer charged at the second bunker and killed one more occupant, thus capturing the second bunker at Tololing, which later facilitated the capture of Point 4590. Major Adhikari, 29, belonged to Tallital in Nainital district of Uttar Pradesh and was commissioned as an officer in 1993. Married in 1998 to Kiran Negi, he died nine days before celebrating his first wedding anniversary. For his gallantry and sacrifice, Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari was honoured with the Maha Vir Chakra, posthumously. MAJOR VIVEK GUPTA Major Vivek Gupta was in command of a company of the 2nd Rajputana Rifles, when it launched a battalion-sized attack on Tololing Top on 12-13 June, 1999. In spite of heavy artillery fire, the team under the leadership of Major Vivek Gupta, was able to close in on the enemy. As soon as the company emerged in the open, they came under intense firing from multiple directions. Three soldiers from the leading section of the company were hit, and the attack was stalled temporarily. Knowing fully well that staying any longer in the open under enemy fire would lead to more losses, Major Gupta reacted immediately and fired a rocket launcher at the enemy bunker. Before the shaken enemy could recover, Major Gupta charged on to the enemy bunker. While charging he was hit by two bullets, but he kept moving towards the bunker. On reaching the bunker, he engaged the enemy in fierce hand-to-hand combat and managed to kill three enemy soldiers, despite his own injuries. Inspired by his gallant deed, the rest of the company followed him and captured the bunker. However, in the ensuing combat, Major Gupta received another direct hit and finally succumbed to his injuries. For conspicuous gallantry and sacrifice, Major Vivek Gupta was honoured with the Maha Vir Chakra, posthumously. MAJOR PADMAPANI ACHARYA On 28 June 1999, in the battalion attack on the Tololing Feature by the 2nd Rajputana Rifles, Major Padmapani Acharya was assigned the task of capturing a heavily fortified enemy position. Success of the battalion and brigade operation hinged on the early capture of this position. However, the company attack almost failed at the very beginning, when the artillery fire of enemy came down squarely on the leading platoon, inflicting large numbers of casualties. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Major Padmapani Acharya took the reserve platoon and led it through raining artillery shells. Unmindful of the hail of bullets from the enemy bunker, Major Padmapani Acharya crawled up to the bunker and lobbed grenades. Severely injured and unable to move, he ordered his men to leave him and charge at the enemy while he continued to fire. The bunker was finally over-run and the target was captured. After completion of the mission, Major Acharya succumbed to his injuries. He was 31 years old. Major Padmaphani Acharya was awarded the second highest wartime gallantry award Maha Vir Chakra on 15th August 1999. LT. KEISHING CLIFFORD NONGRUM Lt. Keishing Clifford Nongrum laid down his life on the night of June 30-July 1 1999, in the operations to capture Point 4812. Lieutenant Nongrum led his Column over the near-impossible vertical feature to capture the point. On reaching the top, his Column encountered strong enemy opposition. The enemy pinned the Column of Lieutenant Nongrum down with automatic fire for about two hours. Finally to enter the fortified bunkers, he charged through the fire zone, utterly disregarding personal safety. Closing in on the first bunker he threw grenades into it and killed six enemy soldiers. In return, he received a volley of bullets. However, the action of Lieutenant Nongrum stunned the enemy and this gave valuable reaction time to his troops to close in and finally clear the position. Though severely wounded, Lieutenant Nongrum refused to be evacuated and fought valiantly till he succumbed to his injuries. This act resulted in the ultimate capture of Point 4812. Lieutenant Keishing Clifford Nongrum was honoured with the Maha Vir Chakra, posthumously.
GRENADIER YOGENDER SINGH YADAV Vill. Aurangabad Ahir, PO Aurangabad Bulandshahar U.POn night of 03/04 July 99, Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav of 18 GRENADIERS was part of the Ghatak Platoon tasked to capture three bunkers on Tiger Hill. Volunteering to lead the assault, Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav was scaling the vertical cliff face, when the enemy opened up with automatic fire. He continued to scale the cliff through a volley of fire. In spite of being hit by three bullets in his groin and shoulder, displaying super human strength and resolve, reached the top. He then crawled up and lobbed a grenade into the first bunker, killing four enemy soldiers. Yet again, he charged the second bunker with his colleagues and in fierce hand to hand combat, killed three Pakistani soldiers. For his sustained display of the most conspicuous personal bravery and gallantry of the highest order in the face of the enemy, Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav has been awarded the PARAM VIR CHAKRA. RIFLEMAN SANJAY KUMAR Vill. Bakan, PO - Kalol, Tehsil - Ghumarwin Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh Rifleman Sanjay Kumar of 13 JAK RIF was the leading Scout of the team tasked to capturing Area Flat Top on 04 Jul 99. Having scaled the cliff, the team was pinned down by auto fire of an enemy bunker, 150 meters away. With complete disregard to personal safety, he crawled up the ledge and charged the bunker. Hit in his chest and forearm, he continued to charge. After cleaning the first bunker, he picked-up the enemy machine-gun and charged the second enemy bunker. Three enemy soldiers were killed on the spot. For his sustained display of the most conspicuous personal bravery and gallantry of the highest order in the face of the enemy, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar has been awarded the PARAM VIR CHAKRA. LIEUTENANT MANOJ KUMAR PANDEY F-790, Mohini Niwas Vishal Chand -1, Gomti Nagar Lucknow U.P. On night 2-3 Jul 99, Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey of 1/11 GR was leading the attack to capture Khalubar. In a display of courage witnessed in close combat, this young officer surged ahead of his troops and charged at the enemy through a hail of bullets. Wounded in the shoulder and leg, he pressed on his solitary charge till he closed onto the first bunker. In ferocious hand to hand combat, he laid low two of the enemy and cleared the first bunker with complete disregard to his grievous injury. The officer, rushed from bunker to bunker, inspiring his men until the last of the enemy was annihilated. For his sustained display of the most conspicuous personal bravery and junior leadership of the highest order in the face of the enemy, Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey has been awarded the PARAM VIR CHAKRA Posthumously. CAPT VIKRAM BATRA House No 295, W-5 Palampur Kangra (HP) On 20 Jun 99, 13 JAK RIF was tasked to capture Point 5140. Capt Vikram Batra, in an audacious move, decided to attack the enemy position from the rear along a sheer cliff face. Undaunted by fire, the officer, followed by five of his men climbed up and hurled two grenades into the enemy Sangar. As three enemy soldiers came out, he single handedly engaged them in close fire fight and killed all three. Mortally wounded, he went back and called forward his men, regrouped them and led them to capture Point 5140. For his sustained display of the most conspicuous personal bravery and junior leadership of the highest order in the face of the enemy, Capt Vikram Batra has been awarded the PARAM VIR CHAKRA Posthumously. CAPTAIN ANUJ NAYYAR Capt Anuj Nayyar, of 17 JAT, was killed on Pimple 1 in the South West sector of Tiger Hills, on July 5. He was in command of Charlie Company, which was tasked to capture an objective, which was part of the Pimple Complex on the western slopes of Point 4875 on July 6,1999. Captain Nayyar continued to command his leading platoon into the attack under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire. Captain Nayyar, along with his platoon, physically assaulted and cleared three enemy bunkers. However, while clearing the fourth bunker, an enemy RPG shell killed him on the spot. For his gallantry and supreme sacrifice, Captain Anuj Nayyar was honoured with the Maha Vir Chakra, posthumously.
CAPTAIN NEIKEZHAKUO KENGURUSE Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse, 2 Rajputana Rifles, was the Ghatak Platoon Commander during the attack on Area Black Rock on the night of June 28, 1999. Captain Kenguruse undertook a daring mission of attacking a well-sited enemy machine gun nest. As the commando team neared the site, it came under intense mortar and automatic fire inflicting heavy casualties. Captain Kenguruse sustained a splinter injury in his abdomen. Bleeding profusely but undeterred, he urged his men to carry on. Unmindful of personal safety, the officer charged at the enemy bunker and personally killed two men with his rifle and another two with his commando knife in hand-to-hand combat before succumbing to his injuries. By his dare devil act, Captain Kenguruse single-handedly neutralised the enemy bunker, which held up the progress of battalion. For gallantry and sacrifice, Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse was honoured with the Maha Vir Chakra, posthumously. Lt Colonel Vishwanathan At another home in another town in Kerala, cruel fate had struck. The father of Lt. Colonel Vishwanathan, another officer to die in the Kargil operation, put on a brave face, despite his grief. "We grieve the loss of our son. But we are also proud he has dedicated his life to the nation," said V Ramakrishnan, 60. Anjali, Lt Colonel Vishwanathan's child, was seated on his lap with a distant look in her eyes. It is difficult to tell if the girl has fully understood what has happened though she is certain that something is amiss. Lt Colonel Vishwanathan, 39, should have been at home if the Kargil operation had not taken place. He had planned to reach Kochi on June 4 to take his wife and two children back to his base on June 21. Lt Colonel Vishwanathan, who did his schooling at Kochi, was commissioned in 1981 after completing his training at the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, and the IMA, Dehradun. He had served with the Indian PeaceKeeping Force in Sri Lanka and later with the UN Peacekeeping Force in Angola. A classmate, Captain Srikumar said Viswanathan was a ''very dedicated person prepared to take any risk.'' =========== A Leader's Tale MISSION: Viswanathan went up the heights to recover the bodies of three of his men. He captured three bunkers but was shot in the groin and thigh. He died while being evacuated. The letter was to the point. "I am proceeding to an unidentified destination. It could be dangerous." It was written by Lt-Colonel R. Viswanathan to his wife Jalaja on June 2 but never posted. It still reached her, on June 6 -- along with the bullet-riddled body of her husband. Viswanathan was on a leader's mission. Three of his men lay dead on the windswept slopes of the Tololing ridge and he had to get them down. It was the least a gallant officer could do. Leading his troops on the night of June 2, Viswanathan crawled up the ridge on his stomach under heavy enemy fire. It was the same old story: the intruders were up on the top, well ensconced in bunkers with their LMGs blazing in the still night. He captured three enemy bunkers before bullet injuries on the thigh and groin stopped him. First aid didn't help and as his troops were trying to get Viswanathan back to Drass, he died on the way. SHAHEED MAJOR HARMINDER PAL SINGH In a daredevil operation in a congested locality of Sadar kootballa village in the vicinity of Manasbal area of Kashmir valley, Major HP Singh was leading the commando platoon of his battalion. He was an officer who ate with his men and played cards with them. He boosted the morale of his soldiers by leading always from the front, when ever situation warrantted. On the morning of April 13, Major HP Singh received information about the presence of four Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists hiding in the locality of Sader koot bala. He started with his 32 men and surrounded 12 houses ataround1 PM in the Khan Mohalla. In the low visibility that prevailed due to an intense dust-storm earlier, Major Singh was the first to enter the houses. The operation was difficult as the soldiers had to expose themselves in the built-up area to prevent any collateral damage to civilians or their property. A search of five houses revealed no militants. Commandos then approached the next set of houses through an alley. Terrorists hiding in these houses opened fire with automatic weapons through a window in ground floor, from a close range. The bullets struck Major HP Singh in the left arm. He fell down but quickly regained his composure and took cover behind a rock. Major shot a militant through the head, when he sneaked through a window on the second floor of the house. The terrorist came tumbling down. Undeterred by his injury, Major Singh went after the other kill. He managed to lob a grenade through the ground-floor window and followed it, up with a burst from his automatic rifle. Major's next task was to cut off the escape route of the third militant. Unfortunately, Major Singh's bullet-proof helmet slipped off. The surviving militant shot him dead with a bullet that pierced through his temple. In a befitting tribute to this sant-sipahi (saint soldier), Lt Gen Krishan Pal, Commander 15 Coprs, said 'Maj Singh's action is significant on this occasion of the tercentenary celebrations. He upheld the spirit of Guru Gobind Singh and rose to fight evil'. Punjab government has announced that it will grant a job to his wife and build a suitable memorial in his honour. But Major Singh did not die for Punjab alone. He died for the entire nation. SHAHEED LT. COL. N.VIJAYARAGHAVAN The brave man of the 15 Kumaon Regiment made the supreme sacrifice of his life on June 25 while leading counter-insurgency operations near Machchal near the LoC. Five militants were killed in the encounter, before one of the militants killed him. Lt.Col.Vijayraghavan had taken part in Operation Bluestar and counter-insurgency operations in Nagaland. SHAHEED CAPTAIN AMIT VERMA The 23-year-old soldier was the only son of his proud parents and a third generation army officer. His grandfather is a retired major and the father a retired colonel. Both had been in battles but Amit was the only one on whom martyrdom was bestowed in Kargil. SHAHEED CAPTAIN N. KENGURUSE Nation's second highest wartime gallentry award MAHA VIR CHAKRA was awarded to Lt. N. Kenguruse on 15th August 1999 SHAHEED LT. COL. SACHIN KUMAR KANDERIYA An army officer was killed following unprovoked heavy shelling by Pakistani troops at Siachen, the world's highest battlefield, on Saturday, a defence ministry spokesman said in New Delhi over the weekend. He said that Lt Col Sachin Kumar Kanderiya was killed when a shell fired by the Pakistani troops exploded near his post on the glacier. Pak troops fired 411 shells from artillery and other weapons, forcing Indian troops to retaliate. However, the casualty suffered by Pakistani troops in the retaliatory action was not known, the spokesman said. He said Pakistani troops also fired on Indian positions at Kargil sector on Saturday. While the Indian side suffered no casualty, a Pakistani bunker was destroyed in the retaliatory action, the spokesman added.
