AFOVA New Letter 2 of Year 2021

Section 6 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 02 / 2021 Page 129 of 332 Batra, ‘D’ Coy thereafter ran through the entire enemy defences on Ledge killing 11 Pak regulars and capturing a huge amount of arms, ammunition, equipment, rations and documents. Heroes of this war became household names. Captain Vikram Batra, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar became icons as both were decorated with the nation’s highest gallantry award, the PARAM VIR CHAKRA. A great event in the country’s and the Regiment’s post- independence history, that a battalion of the Indian Army has won two of the country’s highest gallantry awards in a single operation during OP VIJAY in Kargil. The Battalion won Eight Vir Chakras and Thirteen Sena Medals (for gallantry) and Three COAS Commendation Cards. The Commanding Officer Lt Col YK Joshi, (now Lt Gen and Army Commander Northern Command) who led the battalion from the front, was decorated with the Vir Chakra. Majors Vikas Vohra, Vijay Bhaskar, Capt Sanjeev Singh, Subedar Raghunath Singh Naik Dev Prakash and Riflemen Mehar Singh and Shyam Singh were also decorated with the Vir Chakra. Two gallant officers Major AS Jasrotia SM and Captain Vikram Batra PVC and Fourteen brave heart soldiers were killed in action. The Battalion was awarded the Battle Honour DRAS & MUSHKOH (1999) and Theatre Honour KARGIL (1999) Earlier, in 1944, during the Second World War, two of the then highest gallantry award, Victoria Cross were similarly bagged by 5/5 GR (FF) in the Burma operations. Capt Vikram Batra PVC (Posthumous) Vikram Batra was born on 9 September 1974 in a small village near Palanpur in Himachal Pradesh. He was selected to join the Indian Military Academy in 1996 and was commissioned in 13 JAK RIFLES in 1998. During the Kargil war, on June 19 Batra and his Delta company were ordered to recapture Pt 5140, one of the most arduous and crucial peaks at 17000 feet that was stealthily occupied by PAK forces. Nick named as SHERSHAH for his heroic exploits in the icy heights, he led his men from the front launched a daring attack on the enemy post and despite heavy resistance inspired his men to charge the enemy positions and on 20 th June, they captured Pt 5140 without suffering any casualties. Breaking the radio silence imposed before the assault to maintain stealth and secrecy, Batra’s command radio network opened and announced “CHANAKYA, SHERSHAH REPORTING WE HAVE CAPTURED THE POST”. An air of jubilation at the command post mixed with caution was felt. Retaliation in the form of a counter attack by the enemy was expected. Batra, after securing and consolidating his defences on Pt 5140, saw the enemy retreating. Over the radio network he told Lt Col Joshi, his 13 JAK Rifles at Kargil Heights