Kin start social media drive to seek gallantry award for martyr Major Yogesh Gupta

Nitish Sharma

Ambala, June 15

Ahead of the 20th martyrdom day of Major Yogesh Gupta — who laid down his life while fighting terrorists at Surankote in Jammu and Kashmir on July 12, 2002 — a social media campaign, seeking a gallantry award for him, has been started by his kin.

The martyr’s brother, Vikas Gupta, claimed that Yogesh’s then Commanding Officer had mentioned to the family that his name had been sent for the Ashok Chakra. The family then approached the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Defence, Army headquarters and state government seeking the honour for the Major.

He added that after years of struggle, the Army headquarters in 2017 in a reply mentioned “the concerned branch had not received the citation. Honours are conferred within a specific period from the date of the act qualifying for such recognition and now, it was not feasible to process the same at this belated stage”.

Now, a social media campaign ‘Justice for sacrifice and bravery for Shaheed Major Yogesh Gupta’ was started on June 13, the death anniversary of the martyr’s mother Lalit Mohini who died in 2017.

She had been seeking a gallantry award and a memorial for her son. The family also lost the Major’s father, Parkash Gupta, to Covid in 2021.

Vikas said, “On June 13, we started the campaign. We are also approaching my brother’s batch mates who studied with him in Sainik School, Kapurthala, his course mates from National Defence Academy and other retired Army officials. They have extended their support. Since we don’t have much experience in running any campaign, we are seeking public support. We are hopeful that the campaign will gather momentum and the government will pay attention and give due respect to the martyr.”

The disappointed family members said the battle casualty report of Yogesh stated: “Despite being severely injured, Major Yogesh Gupta continued to engage the terrorists valiantly and killed four dreaded terrorists. A total of five hardcore terrorists were killed in the firefight and Major Yogesh Gupta attained martyrdom.”

Vikas said, “Either the Army should say it had prepared a wrong casualty report or tell why the martyr was not honoured.”

A chowk in Ambala Cantonment was renamed after the martyr in 2019 and a bust was installed in 2020.