Param Vir Chakra (PVC) Rifleman Sanjay Kumar

Rifleman Sanjay Kumar was born on March 3rd 1976 in the village named Klol Bukiana in the Bilaspur District of Himachal Pradesh. He was commissioned in the 13th Battalion, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles and during the Kargil War 1999 he was the leading scout of a team in the ‘Operation Vijay’ that was tasked to capture Area Flat Top. Rifleman Sanjay Kumar had been a real hero who accredited the highest gallantry award the Param Vir Chakra for the 13 JAK Rif.

Capture of Area Flat Top, Kargil War 1999

Rifleman Sanjay Kumar was one of members of the Charlie Company that was commanded to clear Area Flat Top on July 4th. The attack had to be severe since the post was well held by the Pakistani troops with rarest chances of returning alive.

Now the time had come when Rifleman had to lead the attack in a very short span of time. They had to launch a final attack after having suffered the initial causalities. It was a significant yet very crucial moment for Rifleman Sanjay Kumar’s career in which he actually came out to be a true leader. He finally attacked the intruders from the front and succeeded in clearing the sangar by crushing the invaders from that spot. But this was not the end, sooner he realized that he was running short of ammunition and he was also being shot by two bullets of the enemy, in his thigh. Nevertheless, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar did not give up his morale and he very well realized the seriousness of the situation, the invaders were moving forward and almost near the sangar. So, Rifleman instantly grabbed a UMG from a Pak trooper and killed him. He very bravely attacked the enemy personnel then and finally succeeded in capturing the Point 5875 the Area Flat Top. Sanjay Kumar could not sit quiet till the whole of the post was cleared, he refused to evacuate from the spot and kept attacking till the post was absolutely cleared.

This whole of the advance lasted for some hours during which Rifleman Sanjay Kumar killed 6 of the enemy soldiers besides wrecking the morale and courage of rest of the enemy troopers with his own daring attacks. Rifleman Sanjay Kumar was now unmindful and unconcerned about the number of enemy soldiers he killed, all he was focused upon giving his best for rescuing the motherland. The number of killed solders was later on counted by the Indian rescue team. For his constant manifestation of the discernible bravery and gallantry action in the face of the enemy, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar was honoured with the Param Vir Chakra; India ‘s highest medal for gallantry.