THE 2011 GALLANTRY AWARD WINNERS & MARTYRS

   ASHOK CHAKRA

LT. NAVDEEP SINGH, 15 BATTALION, MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY

Lieutenant Navdeep Singh, unhesitatingly sacrificed his young life in the service of

the Nation, on 20th August 2011, in a fierce anti-infiltration operations on the Line of  Control, in the remote Gurez Sector of North Kashmir.

Lieutenant Navdeep, a third generation soldier and an alumnus of the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, was commissioned on 19th March 2011. A born leader, Navdeep’s intrinsic talent and raw fighting spirit soon shone through with his Battalion entrusting him with the coveted leadership of its crack Commando Platoon, which he trained and honed into a superbly fit fighting unit. Raring to go and seeking challenges at every step, Navdeep was deployed with his crack team to destroy infiltration attempts by hardcore terrorists from across the Line of Control.

On the fateful night of 19th August 2011, Lieutenant Navdeep Singh and his

Commando Platoon were deployed in the Kanzalwan Sub Sector in response to

intelligence inputs about a desperate bid by a large group of highly trained terrorists, fully equipped and armed to the teeth with deadly weapons. Leading from the front and demonstrating the highest standards of tactical acumen, field craft and fire control, this brave heart quickly sited his ambush, correctly appreciating the path that the terrorists would adopt. In a display of sheer unbridled courage coupled with steely grit, Navdeep allowed the unsuspecting terrorists to walk into his trap. Springing his ambush at the last moment, Navdeep singlehandedly engaged and eliminated three hardcore terrorists from close range. Despite being hit and severely injured in the violent return fire, Navdeep, continued to control the encounter, marshalling his

resources with cool presence of mind. Living upto the highest military ideals, despite being grievously injured, he saved the life of his buddy while gunning down a fourth terrorist, before eventually succumbing to his injuries. His gallant action resulted in his team eliminating twelve hardcore terrorists in one of the fiercest encounters on the Line of Control, dealing a crippling body blow to the terrorist groups.

KIRTI CHAKRA WINNERS

 

CAPTAIN ASHUTOSH KUMAR

5TH BATTALION THE RAJPUTANA RIFLES

Based on receipt of specific info from own and police sources about the

presence of armed cadres of terrorists in general area Rangpisso Gaon, a joint

search operation was launched under the officer with strength of one JCO and

15 ORs alongwith a police team. At 4.30 am, while own troops were cordoning

the village; move of suspected individuals was noticed. On being challenged, the

individuals started firing indiscriminately. He closed on to the terrorists making

use of thick foliage and despite being under heavy effective fire, fired at the

terrorists, killing one of them and injuring another who later succumbed to his

injuries. The rest of the terrorists panicked and tried to escape while spraying

heavy volume of bullets towards own troops. Determined not to let the fleeing

terrorists escape, the officer ordered his troops to change position and pursue

the escaping terrorists that led to the killing of one more terrorist by his party

while apprehending one cadre alive. Arms and Ammunition, money and other

war like stores were recovered from the slain terrorists.

In the face of extreme adversity, inhospitable terrain, and stringent human

rights regulations, the officer displayed utmost physical courage killing two

dreaded terrorists included Commander. In addition, the officer displayed

inspiring leadership and utmost tactical acumen in executing the operation

leading to the killing of another terrorists and apprehending one alive, ensuring

no collateral damage. This act of the officer is testimony to his dauntless

courage, determination and professionalism for which Capt Ashutosh Kumar

has been awarded ‘KIRTI CHAKRA’.

LT. COL. KAMALDEEP SINGH

13TH BATTALION THE RASHTRIYA RIFLES (RAJPUTANA RIFLES)

Lieutenant Colonel Kamaldeep Singh, 18 RR Bn, was mission commander

for Op Maidanpura on 15 July 2011. On receipt of hard intelligence of presence

of five hardcore terrorists in the area in Dist Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir, the

officer, at 10.50 pm led five quick reaction teams and established cordon of

target house. After confirmation of presence of terrorists, he tightened the

cordon with another 17 quick reaction team members, thereby sealing all

possible exit routes and evacuated five civilians held hostage. While under fire,

he readjusted his cordon parties to effectively engage the terrorists leading to

immediate elimination of two terrorists. The officer while in close cordon sited a

terrorist bringing down heavy fire onto the cordon party. The officer while

controlling the operation himself maneuvered to an advantageous position

through deft battle craft, eliminated one hard core terrorist and seriously

decapacitated another. In an operation lasting over two days, he displayed

absolute calmness, exemplary tactical acumen, and motivated his troops leading

by personal example.

For his professional acumen, astute leadership, indomitable courage and

personal bravery which led to elimination of five hardcore terrorists, Lieutenant

Colonel Kamaldeep Singh is awarded ‘KIRTI CHAKRA’.

 LIEUTENANT SUSHIL KHAJURIA

18TH BATTALION THE GRENADIERS REGIMENT 

Lieutenant Sushil Khajuria was born on 28 Aug 1985 at Samba

(J&K). He completed his schooling from KV No 1 Gandhi Nagar,

Jammu. Om completion of his graduation he joined OTA. On 20 Mar

2010 he was commissioned in ASC on attachment to The 18th

Battalion The GRENADIERS Regiment. A second generation officer

whose elder brother Capt Anil Khajuria is presently serving with 22

Assam Rifles and also has a younger sister.

Lieutenant Sushil Khajuria joined the unit at Panzgam on 14 Apr

2010. He was the Ghatak Platoon Commander from the beginning

and soon he was in the thick of the action and was conducting

counter terrorist operations in treacherous mountainous terrain in the

frontiers of District Kupwara Jammu and Kashmir. His first real

encounter was on 29 July 2011, where he gave an excellent account

of himself and the battalion was successful in neutralising one

hardcore terrorist. 

On 26 Sep 2011, based on specific input by higher formation

headquarters and neighbouring formation regarding presence of an

infiltration column of approx 5-6 terrorists in the general area Kopra,

teams were launched to search and destroy the terrorists. Lieutenant

Sushil Khajuria was leading his team in a rugged and difficult terrain

with steep slopes and thick undergrowth. Simultaneously, he was

also coordinating his move with other four teams, who were carrying

out search. While carrying out search of a nalas, he alongwith his

team came under heavy volume of fire. His buddy was pinned down

by accurate fire from the terrorists. Realising that the terrorists were

entrenched in an advantageous position behind a big rock, he

crawled through thick foliage to a flank and spotted the terrorists

under covering fire from his team. 

Unmindful of his personal safety, he charged at the terrorists up

slope killing two of them. Officer continued leading from the front.

The operation resumed on 27 Sep 2011, another team whose leading

scout was Havildar Ravi Kumar got shot by the terrorists at approx

10.30 hrs am and was severely injured. Havildar Ravi Kumar could

not move and was effectively covered by fire by the terrorist.

Lieutenant Sushil Khajuria volunteered to retrieve injured Havildar

Ravi Kumar. He risked himself to move from his present location to

retrieve Havildar Ravi. While crawling towards Havildar, Lieutenant

Sushil Khajuria was fired upon by a terrorist and was injured. He

later succumbed to his injuries and achieved martyrdom. A true “

Braveheart” who will always remain in our hearts.

SHAURYA CHAKRA WINNERS

 Major Ravindra Kumar Gurang, Regiment of

Artillery / 33rd Field Regiment 

Major Shalender, 4th PARACHUTE Regiment (Special

Force). 

 Subedar Manjeet Singh, 4th PARACHUTE Regiment

(Special Force). 

JC-359183W Naib Subedar Mengare Shankar Ganpati, 15th

MARATHA LI. 

JC-470388F Naib Subedar Lal Singh Khichi, Sena Medal, RAJPUTA

Rifles / 57th Rashtriya Rifles (Posthumous).

THE 2011 MARTYRS

Ser No	Rank	Name	Unit
1.	Lt Col	Chowrira Nanaiah Nanjappa	2041 Utility Helicopter Flight
2.	Lt Col	Nitin Bhatia	2042 Utility Helicopter Flight
3.	Lt Col	Abhishek Khattri	66 Engineer Regiment
4.	Maj	Bhanu Chandar	5 Recce & Observation Flight
5.	Maj	Atul Garje	5 Recce & Observation Flight
6.	Maj	PK Jindal	26 RAJPUT
7.	Maj	Gurphej Singh	13 MAHAR
8.	Maj	Jaidev Singh Guleria	60 Field Regiment
9.	Lt	Manoj Kumar Mishra	18 JAT
10.	Lt	Archit Verdia	13 MAHAR
11.	Lt	Navdeep Singh	15 MARATHA  LI
12.	Lt	Sushil Khajuria	18 GRENADIERS
13.	Sub	Sale Subhash Dattu	13 MAHAR
14.	Sub	Jaipal Singh	42 RR (ASSAM)
15.	Sub	Shri Bhagwan	2 GRENADIERS
16.	Nb Sub	Amarjit Singh	4 SIKH
17.	Nb Sub	Jasvir Singh	7 PARA
18.	Nb Sub	Rajendra Singh Rana	2041 Utility Helicopter Flight
19.	Nb Sub	Lal Singh Khichi,SM	57 RR (RAJPUTANA RIFLES)
20.	Nb Sub	Gurdial Singh	217 Field Regiment
21.	Nb Sub	Vidyadhar Singh Mahala	4 RAJ RIF
22.	Hav	Bijender Singh	14 JAT
23.	Hav	Ravi Kumar	18 GRENADIERS
24.	Hav	Ray Singh	57 Field Regiment
25.	Hav	Chitra Bahadur Gurung	2/5 Gorkha Rifles
26.	Hav	Girish	6 MADRAS
27.	Dafedar	A Purushothaman	15 Armoured Regiment
28.	Hav	Shaikh Mohammed Mohsin	28 RR (JAMMU & KASHMIR RIFLES)
29.	Hav	Jaipal Singh Adhikari	20 KUMAON
30.	L/ Hav	Devendra Mehta	237 Engineer Regiment
31.	L/ Hav	Randhir Singh	164 Meduim  Regiment
32.	Nk	Hari Om	2 GRENADIERS
33.	Nk	Lalit Chandra Mandal	6 Mechanised Infantry
34.	Nk	Rigzin Angdus	2 LADAKH SCOUTS
35.	Nk	Pawan Kumar Pant	204 Army Aviation Squadron (Utility Helicopter)

2

Ser No	Rank	Name	Unit
36.	Nk	Indrasen Singh	42 RR (ASSAM)
37.	Nk	Pankaj Khajuria	1 LADAKH SCOUTS
38.	Nk	Sumer Singh	18 RR (RAJPUTANA RIFLES)
39.	L/ Nk	Patole Dayanand Nagnath	13 MAHAR
40.	L/ Nk	Thukje Rabten	2 Ladakh Scouts
41.	L/ Nk	P Rajiv Gandhi	168 Field Regiment
42.	L/ Nk	K Guru Prasad	651 Engineer  Plant Unit
43.	L/ Nk	Devendra Singh	20 KUMAON
44.	L/ Nk	Patey Tassuk	21 RR (GUARDS)
45.	L/ Nk	Sanjiv Kumar	18 GRENADIERS
46.	L/ Nk	Manbir Singh	13 GARH RIF
47.	L/ Nk	Jitendra Kumar	4 RAJ RIF
48.	Rfn	Mohd Sadiq	2 LADAKH SCOUTS
49.	Rfn	Jimmy Dorjey	2 LADAKH SCOUTS
50.	Rfn	Min Bahadur Bayambu Thapa	15 RR (GORKHA RIFLES)
51.	Rfn	Sachin Kumar	17 RR (MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY)
52.	Rfn	Sandeep Kumar	4 RAJ RIF
53.	Rfn	Bhairu Singh	17 RAJ RIF
54.	Sep	Rajesh Kumar Fageria	13 MAHAR
55.	Sep	Om Prakash Gurjar	10 RR (RAJPUT)
56.	Sep	Sabale Vijendra Shivaji	13 MAHAR
57.	Sep	Narinder Singh	4 SIKH
58.	Sep	Rajendra Chand	26 RR (KUMAON)
59.	Sep	Kailash Chand Gurjar	27 RAJPUT
60.	Sep	Kheto Sumi	1 NAGA
61.	Sep	Shilendra Singh Jadon	9 RAJPUT
62.	Sep	Ashok Kumar	24 PUNJAB
63.	Sep	Jitendar Singh	16 JAT
64.	Sapper	Amarjit Singh	42 RR (ASSAM)
65.	Sapper	Parmod Kumar	66 Engineer Regiment
66.	Craftsman	Salunkhe Dattatray Tanaji	42 RR (ASSAM)
67.	Craftsman	Ram Lakhan Sharma	42 RR (ASSAM)
68.	Gunner	Pankaj Singh	22 Field Regiment
69.	Gunner	Ashok Mayannavar	191 Field Regiment
70.	Paratrooper	Miteswar Basumatary	9 PARA
71.	Sowar	Shyam Singh	55 RR (GRENADIERS)

 ALL INFORMATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS, COURTESY THE INDIAN ARMY