AFOVA New Letter 2 of Year 2021

Section 6 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 02 / 2021 Page 128 of 332 noticed and ended when the last Pakistani intruders were pushed back on 26 July 1999. Dras, a small town located in Jammu and Kashmir known as Gateway to Ladakh, shot into prominence during 1999 Kargil War when 13 JAK RIF was assigned the task to recapture Pt 5140, one of the most strategically important features in Dras Sector from Pakistani intruders. The enemy was well entrenched and was able to bring observed artillery fire and was covering all approaches by automatic fire. It was planned that 13 JAK RIF would attack on Pt 5140 from the South. On 19 Jun 1999, the Battalion moved from Tololing Top and concentrated on the Western slopes of Hump from where, the attack was launched which took the enemy by surprise. On 20 Jun 1999, the entire area of Pt.5140 had been captured with many enemy intruders killed and huge cache of arms, ammunition and equipment recovered. The capture of the peak at the height of 17,000 feet was a Saga of Bravery of soldiers of 13 JAK RIF which heralded the Indian recovery in Kargil and brought laurels to the nation. The capture of Pt 5140 by 13 JAK RIF turned the tide on the enemy. The enemy was badly shaken up and it was hereafter that he was on the run. Factors of surprise and stealth were the hallmark of this operation. After the capture of Pt. 5140, helicopters could land at the helipad on Tololing which was subsequently constructed. Having given its first success at Pt 5140, the battalion was again tasked to evict the enemy from Pt 4875, a strategically important feature in the Mushkoh Valley North West of Dras. It dominated and interdicted the National Highway by observation and fire. Continuing with the same zeal and enthusiasm, TEEVRA TERAH’, by then a lucky mascot of 8 Mountain Division was tasked to evict the enemy from this immensely important feature. It was planned to launch a multi directional attack, to be carried out by ‘C’ Coy commanded by Maj Gurpreet Singh and ‘A’ Coy, under Maj SV Bhaskar. On night of 04/05 Jul 1999, both companies braving inhospitable terrain and adverse weather advanced towards the objective. However, approximately 200 meters short of the objective both companies were pinned down, by heavy and accurate enemy fire as dawn had set in. With utter disregard to their personal safety, exhibiting courage and valour of the highest order and assisted by some accurate missiles personally fired by Commanding Officer Lt Col YK Joshi from the fire base, both companies launched a broad day light attack to capture Pt 4875 and gave another ‘most wanted’ victory to the nation. Having consolidated on Pt 4875, ‘D’ Coy under Maj Vikas Vohra was then tasked to exploit towards north and clear a feature called Ledge. Capt Vikram Batra who was the second in command of the Coy carried out a daring frontal assault on one of the Sangars on Ledge and in the ensuing fire fight, made the supreme sacrifice, but not before killing five Pakistani soldiers single handedly. This brave son of our Nation was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for this act of gallantry. Angered and aggrieved by the loss of Capt