MINISTRY OF DEFENCE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Param Vir Chakra Awardee of India Lance Naik Albert Ekka Lance Naik Albert Ekka Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous), 14 Guards Lance Naik Albert Ekka (4239746), son of Shri Zulnis Ekka was born on December 27, 1942, in village Zari, Ranchi, Bihar. He was enrolled in J 4 Guards on December 27, J 962. During the Indo-Pak War J971, 14 Guards was tasked to capture a Pakistani position at Gangasagar, 6 \11. km west of Agartala, in the 14 Guards Eastern Sector. It was a well-fortified position held in good strength by the enemy. The reduction of this position was considered necessary as it was the key to the capture ofAkhaura. J 4 Guards launched an attack on enemy positions at 0400 hours on December 3. Albert Ekka accompanied the left forward company of the Battalion in the attack. The assaulting Indian troops were subjected to intense shelling and heavy small arms fire by the enemy. Lance Naik Ekka observed that an enemy light machine gun was belching deadly fire from a bunker, causing heavy casualties to his Company. Unmindful ofhis personal safety, he charged the bunker, bayonetted two occupants and silenced the light machine gun. Though seriously injured in this December 27, 1942· December 3. 1971 encounter, he continued to fight alongside his comrades with courage, securing bunker after bunker. After battling through a distance ofone and­ a-half kilometres, when Ekka and his comrades reached the northern end of the objective, an enemy medium machine gun opened up from the second storey ofa well fortified building. Itinflicted heavy casualties on Indians and held up their progress. Once again Ekka rose to the occasion. Unmindful of his personal safety, he crawled to the building and hurled a grenade into the bunker killing one enemy soldier and injuring the other. The medium machine gun could not, however. be silenced. Lance Naik Ekka then scaled the sidewall to enter the bunker. He bayonetted the enemy holding the bunker and silenced the deadly weapon. This saved his Company from further casualties and ensured success. Ekka died of the injuries suffered during this battle. Wife of Lance Naik Albert Ekka receiving PVC from the President Shri VVGiri Lance Naik Albert Ekka was awarded Param Vir Chakra for displaying the most conspicuous valour and determination. posthumously..