THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Col J P Singh now Col, led the Ghatak Platoon of 18 Grenadiers Capture of Tiger Hill on the most difficult, North-Eastern approach. His Excelsior here were two turning points during the Platoon made use of the rope to reach the top of Established 1965 Kargil War; the first was the capture of the Tiger Hill at 4.30 AM and totally surprised the Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra TTololing on 27 June 1999 that started the enemy that had already suffered due to heavy 'turn in the tide', and second was the capture of Kargil War 1999 artillery and air attacks. In the ensuring hand-to- Tiger Hill on 4th July, which was a physical and hand fight, the enemy lost 10-12 men. 18 psychological blow to Pakistan and 'end in sight' dranath, CO 2 Raj Rif. CO with his small party was which is located 2 km to its South-West, were Grenadiers suffered six fatalities. Grenadier Illegal stone quarrying for her. What follows is the story of the capture of then located near the objective. Col Ravindranath secured, movement along NH 1A will never be Yogendar Singh Yadav, who was in the lead on the twin features, the Tololing and the Tiger Hill in was taken aback when he learnt about the telephone safe. In the second week of May 1999; 8 Sikh mov- rope, and wounded badly, earned India's highest June- July 1999. call from the Army Chief. He spoke to him in whis- ing from Udhampur to the Kashmir valley was gallantry award of Param Vir Chakra. The Ghatak in Baramulla The battle of Tololing was a pivotal battle in the pers due to close proximity of the enemy. Chief diverted to Dras. Immediately on arrival, the unit Platoon with some reinforcements firmed in on the Kargil War. Towering over Dras town, Tololing wished him and his men good luck in their mis- was launched into the battle to clear Tiger Hill with- Tiger Hill top, but throughout the day came under here should be some limit to the human was the highest feature in the Kargil sector over- out acclimatisation enemy fire from the Western Spur. On 4th July greed with intent to earn more and more looking the NH 1A. If not cleared, the enemy could and snow clothing. GOC 15 Corps rang up Chief at 6 AM to inform cut the only supply route to Leh. The battle of Tolol- The unit suffered money even if would be as a result of violat- him that 18 Grenadiers had reached the Tiger Hill T ing began on 20 May 1999 when the task of cap- heavy casualties in top and heavy fighting was going on. At 7.30 AM, ing a natural boon like a natural water lake or turing it was given to 18 Grenadier. The enemy was its attempt to get Gen Mohinder Puri confirmed to the Chief that 18 majestically flowing river or felling trees in already entrenched at height and was able to observe move- close to the objec- Grenadiers was in full control and the enemy would shrinking forests or illegal mining. There are ment of 18 Grenadiers making its progress excru- tive. It was then not be able to dislodge it from the Tiger Hill top. ciatingly slow. Regardless the brave Grenadiers ordered to occupy numerous examples and "commercial traditions" of By then the Defence Minister was on his way to carried on. Major Rajesh Adhikari laid down his dominating heights Amritsar. When he landed at Amritsar Airport, not only overdrawing the natural resources but life in a daring attack which saw him reach within Southeast of Tiger Chief gave him this exciting news. Army Chief also damaging them and for making a fast buck greedy 15 meters of the ridge beyond the Hump feature Hill, and 'Parion ka informed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, for which he was awarded MVC. Realising the people could resort to the proverbial killing the Talab' to its North. who was going to address a public meeting in gravity of the situation, the 2IC of the Bn, Lt. Col. No further attempts Haryana at 10 AM. goose itself that was laying a golden egg every day. Vishwanathan himself led the next attack, know- were made to cap- July 4, 1999, was an important date because Stone quarrying is one of such measures which ing very well it would be suicidal and made the ture Tiger Hill for Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, was executed illegally and from spots not technically supreme sacrifice. Thereafter 2 Raj Rif was the next six weeks to meet President Clinton later in the day. Army brought in for a fresh assault. A team of 90 volun- till the army was ful- Chief made sure that the whole world came to know allowed because of associated hazards, wreaks teers of 2 Raj Rif, under Maj Vivek Gupta, were ly ready for it. about the capture of Tiger Hill and thus the likely havoc with not only the landscape but could even assembled to recapture the important feature. From Tiger Hill was 6 PM on 21 June, the artillery opened up a barrage outcome of the Kargil war. It was a hard psycho- threaten the very lives of the people living around an extensive feature logical blow to Pakistan who, on 4th July also on Tololing top. Enemy bunkers were targeted first sion. Next morning the Army Chief received the which extends about 2200 mtrs from West to East there. denied even the existence of such a feature and by the Bofor guns and later by field guns. Maj good news of capture of Tololing from Gen Mohin- and about 1000 mtrs North to South. One compa- labeled the entire operations as a figment of the Drangbal area of Baramulla district in Kashmir Vivek Gupta made the supreme sacrifice, but not der Puri. ny of Pakistan 12 Northern Light Infantry held the valley is a place where illegal stone quarrying is before capturing two difficult posts, on the icy Tiger Hill was the next objective which had to whole feature. 18 Grenadiers along with 8 Sikh, imagination. Victory in the Battle of Tiger Hill on 4th July was the last straw that broke the camel's being openly done with impunity even if it amount- slopes of Tololing. Hav Yashvir Singh Tomar be cleared soon. It was picturesque, dominating which were already in the area, were tasked to cap- charged the last bunker and was later found dead and difficult, and became a war symbol in India. It back in Kargil War. In India, a wave of jubilation ed to not only damaging the roads built at huge ture Tiger Hill on the night of 3/4 July 1999. They with rifle in one hand and a grenade in the other. stands majestically among the mountaintops a few were provided a team of the High Altitude Warfare and relief overtook the mood of the people. This cost involving money and labour but posed threat Lt. Vijayant Thapar, whose proud father Col Tha- kms North of Dras. One cannot miss it, or help School, adequate artillery, Engineer and other sup- was the greatest victory of the Kargil war. Capture to human lives. In this area more than 25 stone par is often seen on TVdebates, along with his men admire it, as one drives along NH 1A from Zojila port. The Air Force too engaged Tiger Hill on 2/3 of Tiger Hill was reported across the globe. quarrying "units" are operating and astonishingly, was instrumental in capturing the Barbad Bunker. to Kargil. During the Kargil war, it was a delight July 1999. A war is the ultimate test for the armies and He would later lay down his life few days later for photojournalists as it provided some of the best The assault began at 1900 hours on 3 July 1999 their soldiers. Victory is achieved because battles seventy percent are carrying their activities illegal- while capturing the Knol and Three Pimple com- pictures of that war. with direct and indirect firing by artillery. It was a are won. At the cutting edge of every battle, it is ly and without any proper authorisation. Scores of plex and earning the coveted Vr C. Gen V P Malik, From Tiger Hill, the enemy had a clear view of multi-directional infantry assault. 8 Sikhs provid- the military skills of the troops, camaraderie, reg- trucks are lined up there to carry stones from the the Army Chief was in Dras on 27 June 1999. That NH 1A from the Dras Transit Camp to Bhimbat, ed the firm base and engaged the enemy from obvi- imental spirit, and above all the will power and area for sale. The residents of the area living at the evening, 2 Raj Rif was preparing to attack Three and the road leading to Marpola on the Line of Con- ous approaches as part of a deception plan. 18 resolve which determine victory which the Indian Pimples, another very difficult feature West of trol (LoC). They could effectively interdict vehic- Grenadiers moved towards the objective from the Army displayed yet again in Kargil War. Long live bottom of these "sites" of the hill are vulnerable to Tololing. To encourage the unit and to wish it good ular movement on these roads. It was clear from South and North East. The weather assisted the bat- the victors of Tololing and Tiger Hill. various types of difficulties.