While living a very comfortable life, we often forget that this life hasn't come to us for free. There are some men in uniform giving their sweat and blood for us to live that way. This is the concluding part of the recipients of Param Vir Chakra story
Aniket Raja
Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzarji Tarapore (Posthumous)
Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzarji Tarapore joined the Hyderabad State Force in 1942 and saw active service in West Asia during World War-II. He was commissioned in Poona Horse on April 01, 1951. The biggest tank battle of the 1965 Indo-Pak War took place at Phillora in the Sialkot sector. Lt. Col. A B Tarapore defied the enemy's charge, held his ground and gallantly attacked Phillora with one of his squadrons supported by an Infantry battalion. When wounded, he refused to be evacuated. On September 14, 1965, he led his regiment to capture Wazirali. Unmindful of his injury, he again led his regiment and captured Jassoran and Butur-Dograndi on September 16, 1965. In this battle his own tank was hit several times. Lt. Colonel A B Tarapore’s tank was in flames and he died a hero's death.
Lance Naik Albert Ekka (Posthumous)
Lance Naik Albert Ekka was enrolled in the 14 Guards on December 27, 1962. During the 1971 Indo-Pak War, the 14 Guards was asked to capture a Pakistani position at Gangasagar, 6½ km west of Agartala in the eastern sector. Ekka went with the left forward company of the battalion in the attack. He charged the enemy bunker, bayoneted two enemy soldiers and silenced the light machine gun. Though seriously injured in this encounter, he continued to fight alongside his comrades with courage, securing bunker after bunker. He hurled a grenade into the enemy bunker. Ekka died of the injuries suffered during this battle.
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (Posthumous)
Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 4, 1967. During the 1971 operations, Sekhon was with No. 18 “Flying Bullets” Squadron flying the Folland Gnat fighter based at Srinagar. He and his colleagues fought successive waves of intruding Pakistani aircraft with valour and determination. On the 14th of December 1971, Srinagar Airfield was attacked by a wave of six enemy Sabre aircrafts. Sekhon took off and immediately engaged a pair of the attacking Sabres. He succeeded in damaging two of the enemy aircrafts but had to pay his life for that.
Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (Posthumous)
Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, was commissioned in the 17 Poona Horse on June 13, 1971. During the 1971 Indo-Pak War, the 47 Infantry Brigade, with the 17 Poona Horse under command, was ordered to establish a bridge-head across the Basantar River in Shakargarh sector. Khetarpal fiercely attacked the enemy strong points and captured many enemy soldiers and recoilless guns at gunpoint. He destroyed several enemy tanks. In the thick of the battle, Khetarpal's tank also received a shot and burst into flames. But realising the useful role of his tank in preventing a breakthrough, he set about destroying the remaining enemy tanks. At this stage his tank received a second hit. The brave Officer met his death denying the enemy the intended breakthrough.
Major Hoshiar Singh
Major Hoshiar Singh was commissioned in the Grenadiers Regiment on June 30, 1963. He was also Mentioned-in-Despatches. On December 17th, during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, though wounded seriously in enemy shelling, Major Singh again went alone from trench to trench, moving in the open. Major Singh, realising the importance of fire support at this juncture, rushed to the machine gun pit and operated the gun inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. The enemy attack was repulsed, and they beat a hasty retreat. Throughout this operation, Major Singh displayed the most conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy, grit, determination and indomitable spirit.
Naib Subedar Bana Singh
Naib Subedar Bana Singh, was enrolled in the Indian Army on January 6, 1969 into the Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI). During June 1987, the 8 JAK LI, was deployed in the Siachen area. Naib Subedar Singh volunteered to join the special task force formed to root out Pakistani infiltrators. Naib Subedar Bana Singh led his men through an extremely difficult and hazardous route. Lobbing hand-grenades, charging with a bayonet and moving from trench to trench, he cleared the post of all intruders
Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran (Posthumous)
Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran was granted Short Service Commission in the Mahar Regiment on January 16, 1972. He took part in a number of operations undertaken by the Indian Army. Under the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement many Indian Army units were dispatched to Sri Lanka to maintain law and order there. On November 25, 1987, Major Parameswaran and his column were ambushed by a group of militants. With great presence of mind he encircled the militants from the rear and boldly charged them. During the hand-to-hand combat that followed, one militant shot him in the chest. Undaunted by his grave injury, he snatched the rifle from a militant and shot him dead. Though critically wounded he continued to give orders and inspire his command till he breathed his last.
Captain Vikram Batra ( Posthumous)
Captain Vikram Batra, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, and his Delta Company were given the task of recapturing Point 5140. Captain Batra single-handedly engaged three enemy soldiers in close combat and killed them. He was seriously injured during this combat, but insisted on regrouping his men to continue with the given task at hand. Inspired by the extraordinary courage displayed by Captain Batra, the soldiers of 13 JAK Rifles charged the enemy position and captured Point 5140 at 3:30 a.m. on June 20, 1999. Captain Batra led his men to even more glorious victories with the recapture of Point 4750 and Point 4875. He was tragically killed, when he tried to rescue an injured officer during an enemy counterattack.
Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey (Posthumously)
Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, forced back the intruders from the Batalik sector on June 11, 1999. He led his men to recapture the Jaubar Top, a feature of great operational importance. But his finest hour was in the capture of Khalubar in the early morning hours of July 3, 1999. On the night of July 2-3, 1999 the battalion's progress on to its final objective, was halted by a determined enemy firmly entrenched on commanding heights. The young officer led his platoon along a narrow, treacherous ridge that led to the enemy position. He surged ahead of his troops and charged at the enemy with a full-throated battle cry through a hail of bullets. Although wounded in the shoulder and leg, he pressed on his solitary charge with grim determination. Critically bleeding, he collapsed at the final bunker and finally succumbed to his injuries, but not before the last of the enemy had been
annihilated.
Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav
Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav of 18 Grenadiers , was part of the Commando 'Ghatak' Platoon tasked to capture three strategic bunkers on Tiger Hill during the Kargil war on the night of July 3-4, 1999. In spite of having been hit by three bullets in his groin and shoulder, displaying great strength and resolve, he climbed the remaining 60 feet, all by himself and reached the top. With rare grit and courage, he crawled up to the bunker critically injured and lobbed a grenade killing four Pakistani soldiers and neutralising enemy fire.
Rifleman Sanjay Kumar
Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, was the leading Scout of a team tasked to capturing Area Flat Top of Point 4875 in the Mushkoh Valley on July 4, 1999, being held by Pakistani-backed militants. Without concern for personal safety, Kumar crawled alone up the ledge and charged towards the enemy bunker, through a hail of automatic fire. Bleeding profusely from the bullet wounds, he continued the charge towards the bunker. He then picked up the enemy machine gun and crept towards the second enemy bunker. Three enemy soldiers, taken completely by surprise were killed by him on the spot.
These people saved the lives of many with their act of
bravery. The nation salutes them for their gallant, valour and their indomitable spirit.
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