WAR HEROIC (OPERATION VIJAY) - THE PRIDE OF NATION "Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it, it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it" (“Either you will attain heaven by sacrificing in battle or you will enjoy the kingdom of earth by getting victory.”) Taking this verse of Gita as inspiration, the warriors of India had forced the enemy to pull back in the Kargil war. On 26 July 1999, the Indian Army had successfully liberated the land of India from the clutches of intruders by successfully carrying out 'Operation Vijay' during the Kargil War. In memory of this, '26th July' is now celebrated every year as Kargil Day. The martyrs who attained martyrdom while protecting the motherland. Dedication to those who have sacrificed their today for our tomorrow.Their courage was higher than the Himalayas: In this war, more than 527 of our brave warriors were martyred and more than 1300 were injured, most of whom could not even see the 30 springs of their lives. These martyrs carried out the highest tradition of valor and sacrifice of the Indian Army, which every soldier takes in front of the tricolor. HEROIC SONS OF INDIA CAPTAIN VIKRAM BATRA Captain Vikram Batra is the same who, despite being injured in the fierce firing from the front in Kargil, had hoisted the tricolor at Point 4875 and said "YEH DIL MAANGE MOR". Captain Vikram Batra of Palampur, a small town in Himachal Pradesh, was of 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, he was one of those bravehearts who conquered several strategic peaks after fierce battles one after the other. Not only did they capture the bunker built by the Pakistanis on Vikram Tololing, but in an attempt to evacuate one of his wounded fellow officers and soldiers from the battlefield, regardless of the bullets, Vikram Batra, the beloved of Maa Bharti, directly confronted the Pakistani soldiers on 7 July 1999. And were martyred. Even Pakistani fighters had saluted his bravery and honored him with the name of 'SHER SHAH'. Today that peak is known as Batra Top. Amar Shaheed Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded India's highest military award 'Param Vir Chakra' for his indomitable courage and sacrifice. _________________________________________________________ CAPTAIN ANUJ NAYYAR The brave Captain Anuj Nayyar of the 17 Jat Regiment continued to hold the front even after the martyrdom of six of his comrades in the battle of 'ONE PIMPLE', an important peak in the Tiger Hills sector. In spite of being seriously wounded, he single-handedly fought the enemies till additional Kumuk arrived, as a result of which the Indian Army was able to capture back this strategic peak as well. For this bravery, Captain Anuj was posthumously awarded India's second highest military honor 'Maha Vir Chakra'. _________________________________________________________ MAJOR PADMAPANI ACHARYA Major Padmapani Acharya of Rajputana Rifles also in Kargil On 28 June 1999, Veergati was received at the hands of enemies on Lone Hills. His brothers were also involved in this war in the Dras sector.The government posthumously awarded him the Maha Vir Chakra for his gallantry on the Kargil Hill. _________________________________________________________ "If death strikes before I prove my blood, I swear I'll kill Death" LT. MANOJ KUMAR PANDEY The bravery of Lieutenant Manoj kumar Pandey of 1/11 Gorkha Rifles is still written on 'Zubar Top' of Batalik Sector. He was the hero of Operation Vijay. Taking his Gorkha platoon in the inaccessible hilly area with the slogan 'Kali Mata ki Jai', he freed sixes of the enemies and broke his teeth. Fighting in the very inaccessible area, Manoj Pandey defeated many of the enemies. Bunker destroyed. Under his leadership, the army contingent captured Jober Top and Khalubar Top by the army. Despite being seriously injured, Manoj fought till the last moment. Pandey waved the tricolor regardless of his injuries. Manoj Pandey, who followed the Indian Army's 'tradition of not leaving a partner behind' till his death, was posthumously awarded the 'Param Vir Chakra' for his bravery and sacrifice. _________________________________________________________ "I am a soldier. I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight" CAPTAIN SAURABH KALIA The Indian Air Force also did not lag behind in showing Jauhar in this war, while attacking the intruders hiding in the inaccessible hills of Tololing, many brave officers and other ranks of the Air Force were also martyred while fighting the enemy in this battle. Captain Saurabh Kalia and his patrolling party personnel were among the first to be sacrificed. Despite the severe torture, Captain Kalia did not give any information to the enemies. _________________________________________________________ SQUADRON LEADER AJAY AHUJA Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja's aircraft also fell victim to enemy firing. Ajay's fighter plane was destroyed in enemy firing, yet he did not give up and continued to fire on the enemies even while landing with a parachute and died fighting. _________________________________________________________ “Some goals are so worthy, it's glorious even to fail” RIFLEMAN SANJAY KUMAR Martyr Sanjay was in 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. He was the leader of the scout team and captured the flat top with his small contingent. He was a brave warrior, he had eaten the bullets of the enemies on the chest. Even after being shot, he kept fighting with the enemies and he showed indomitable courage. _________________________________________________________ CAPTAIN N KENGURUSE Martyr Kengursu was in the battalion of Rajputana Rifles. He was martyred during the Kargil war on 28 June 1999 on the Lone Hills while defeating the enemies. The government posthumously awarded the ‘Mahavir Chakra’ to this warrior who drove the enemies out on the battlefield. _________________________________________________________ These Ranbankurs had also promised to come back to their families, which they fulfilled, but their arrival was strange. They returned, but in a wooden coffin. Wrapped in the same tricolor, which he had raised the oath of protection. The national flag before which his head was bowed with respect, the same tricolor was narrating their pride saga by wrapping them with these sacrificing bravehearts of the motherland. “Victory doesn’t come cheap, we also had to carry some biers... A tribute to the martyrs of India.” - Amitesh Sodhiya JAI HIND! JAI BHARAT CADET ASHA HAR/20/SWA/257160 3 HAR (G) BN NCC,HISAR.