The Param Virs of Kargil War

The young Indian officers and soldiers showed exemplary bravery, grit and determination in the face of overwhelming odds to push the Pakistanis from Indian territory. In doing so, some made the supreme sacrifice of laying down their life for the country. Here are the stories of four such men, who were decorated with India's highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra.

Hyderabad:India and Pakistan fought the Kargil war between May and July of 1999 in Jammu and Kashmir's Kargil district, along the Line of Control (LOC). During the war, the Indian Army pushed back the intruders and succeeded in taking back all the posts taken by the intruders. The three-month-long conflict led to a loss of life on both sides with the Indian side losing nearly 490 officers, soldiers, and jawans.

The young Indian soldiers showed exemplary bravery, grit and determination in the face of overwhelming odds to push the Pakistanis from Indian territory. In doing so, some made the supreme sacrifice of laying down their life for the country. Four young Army men -- 2 officers and 2 soldiers belonging to different ranks, were decorated with India's highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra. These are their stories of valour and bravery.

GRENADIER YOGENDRA SINGH YADAV

Played a key role in the capture of Tiger Hill. He was decorated with the nation's highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra.

• Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav was part of the leading team of the Ghatak commando platoon asked to capture Tiger Hill on the night of 3-4 July 1999.
• The approach to the top, at a height of 16,500 feet, was steep, snow-bound and rocky. He volunteered to lead the assault and fix a rope for the rest of his team to follow.
• The Ghataks succeeded in surprising the enemy. On seeing his team reach the top, the enemy reacted violently and opened up intense automatic machine gun, grenade and rocket fire, killing Yogendra Singh Yadav's team commander and two colleagues.
• The further advance of the platoon was stalled.
• Realizing the gravity of the situation, Yogendra Singh Yadav crawled up to the enemy position to silence it and sustained multiple bullet injuries.
• Disregarding his injuries and braving the thick volley of enemy bullets, he continued towards the enemy's sangars and lobbed grenades inside, all the while firing from his rifle.
• He killed four Pakistani soldiers in close combat and silenced the automatic fire.
• In this action and while repulsing a counterattack, Grenadier Yadav was hit in his left arm and right leg.
• Undeterred, he crawled forward to destroy yet another sangar. Inspired by this fearless daredelivery, the rest of Ghatak Platoon fell upon the enemy's position with vengeance and succeeded in capturing the Tiger Hill Top.

RIFLEMAN SANJAY KUMAR

Played a key role in the capturing of Point 4875 in the Mashkoh valley.

• Rifleman Sanjay Kumar volunteered to be the leading scout of the attacking column tasked to capture area Flat Top of the Point 4875 in the Mashkoh valley on 4 July 1999.
• Enemy automatic fire from one of the Sangars posed stiff opposition and stalled the progress of the column. Rifleman Sanjay Kumar charged the enemy Sangar with utter disregard for his personal safety.
• In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, he killed three Pakistani Soldiers and was himself seriously injured.
• However, despite his injuries, he continued to fight and charged on to the second sangar that had been interfering with the attack.
• The enemy fled from the scene leaving behind one machine gun
• Although Rifleman Sanjay Kumar was bleeding profusely from his wounds, he refused to be evacuated.
• His actions motivated his comrades to capture area Flat Top from the enemy.
• For his most conspicuous gallantry against heavy odds leading to the capture of an important objective, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest gallantry award.

CAPTAIN VIKRAM BATRA:

• On the 7th July 1999, Captain Vikram Batra volunteered to lead an attack to recapture the area north of Point 4875 from where the enemy was interfering in the operations of 13 JAK rifles
• The task involved an assault along a narrow ridge to clear a heavily fortified feature.
• Personally leading the assault, Captain Batra engaged the enemy at point-blank range.
• During the assault, he sustained grievous injuries but refused to yield ground.
• He rallied his men, pressed home the attack and finally succeeded in achieving what was seemed to be a militarily impossible task.
• Inspired by this extraordinary display of fearlessness and raw courage form their leaders, the troops overcame the enemy and captured his position. He laid his life for the country in capturing the objective.
• On 20 June 1999, Captain Vikram Batra had displayed sterling leadership qualities by leading from the front, to physically assault enemy positions on Point 5140 in the Dras Sector. After his heroics in recapturing the Point 5140, Batra was promoted to the rank of Captain.
• He had launched a daredevil assault and had personally killed four intruders in a hand-to-hand fight.
• Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest gallantry award.

His famous quotes

• "Either I will come back after hoisting the Tricolour, or I will come back wrapped in it, but I will be back for sure"
• "Yeh Dil Maange More"

LIEUTENANT MANOJ KUMAR PANDEY

• Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, a Young officer of the 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, fearlessly participated in a series of boldly led attacks a Khalubar.
• On the night of 2-3 July 1999, as his platoon approached its final objective after an arduous climb lasting several hours, it came under heavy and intense enemy fire from the surrounding heights.
• Manoj's platoon was nominated to clear the interfering enemy positions he moved his platoon quickly to an advantageous position and sent one section to clear Pakistani sangars from the right.
• While he himself proceeded to clear four other enemy sangars which were interfering with the attack from the left.
• Fearlessly charging up to the first sangar, braving a hail of bullets, he killed two enemy soldiers and went on to assault the second.
• He destroyed it by killing two more enemy personnel.
• While clearing the third Sangar, Manoj was injured on the shoulder and legs by enemy fire.
• Undaunted and without caring for his grievous injury, this spirited Young officer personally led the assault on the fourth sangar, urging his men on.
• He succeeded in destroying it with a grenade hut even as he hurled a grenade inside, he sustained a medium machine-gun-burst on his forehead at virtually point-blank range, to which he succumbed.
• This daredevil act of the young officer provided the critical foothold to the Gorkhas that finally led to the capture of Khalubar.
• Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his outstanding acts of bravery.

His famous quote

"If death strikes before I prove my blood, I swear I'll kill Death" – Capt Manoj Kumar Pandey PVC 1/11 Gurkha Rifles.

Before his selection, during his Services Selection Board (SSB) interview, the interviewer asked him, “Why do you want to join the Army?” He immediately replied, "I want to win the Param Vir Chakra." True to his words, Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey did win the country’s highest gallantry honour but posthumously.