We had pledged not to return defeated: Kargil war veteran

"We had tied saffron scarfs on our heads with a pledge that we will only return after conquering the peaks and wont return defeated," Omprakash Singh retired soldier of the 2 Rajputana Rifles said.

Morena (Madhya Pradesh): The nation will celebrate the 21st anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26, 2019. On this day in 1999, the over two-month-long war ended after Indian troops recaptured the positions that were intruded upon by Pakistani soldiers.

Born in Harachandavasai village on the banks of the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh's Morena, retired soldier Omprakash Singh started his career from the Second Rajputana Rifles of the Indian Army in 1979 and retired in the year 2000, during his tenure he played an important role in three wars in the Indo-Pak and Indo-Chinese wars.

On June 12, 1999, Omprakash Singh along with other soldiers climbed the height of 16 thousand feet for over three days and played a major role in destroying the enemy posts in the Raj Sector of 3 Pimple Post. Omprakash Singh unfurled the tricolour there and informed the seniors about their victory.

'Kargil' is not merely the name of a district, but an emotion that reminds us of brave stories of the soldiers who were martyred in the war. It was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July in 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir. Over 527 soldiers were martyred and more than 1,363 soldiers were injured.

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The soldiers of the 2 Rajputana Rifles were stationed at the Dras sector in the Kargil area. The regiment reached the sector on June 10. The enemy post was situated at the front of 3 Pimple post about 16,000 feet above which was a major challenge for the regiment. Despite the odds, soldiers fought bravely and moved up the mountain.

"We had tied saffron scarfs on our heads with a pledge that we will only return after conquering the peaks and won't return defeated," Omprakash Singh said.

"We all, despite being severely injured, kept on fighting the enemy and marching ahead. Finally, our sacrifice paid off and we recaptured the strategic peaks of Kargil," he added.

Most of the soldiers lost their lives due to excessive blood loss as they without caring for their own injuries, kept on fighting the enemies to regain the peaks.

Even after 21 years, soldier Omprakash Singh said that "I am ready to fight again with the same grit and passion if my motherland needs me."