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Sanjay Kumar — ‘Param Vir’ of Himachal

Apart from producing best apples, the state it famous for nurturing the bravest of braves as well.

Sanjay Kumar — ‘Param Vir’ of Himachal


Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)

Apart from producing best apples, the state it famous for nurturing the bravest of braves as well. Among 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees since Independence, four are Himachalis and Sanjay Kumar is one of them.

Son of Durga Ram, Sanjay was born on March 3, 1976, at Bakain village, Kalol, Tehsil Jhandutta in Bilaspur district. 

Those days, and to a great extent even now, Army remains a top career option for men in Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and the Dogra Regiment are the preferred ones. 

After passing matriculation from Government Senior Secondary School, Kalol, Sanjay was enrolled in the 13th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, now referred to as '13 JAK RIF (Kargil)'. The battalion, within 52 years of its raising, with its spectacular performance in all fields, has proved that number 13, considered unlucky by many, can be turned into a lucky number with a bit of sweat and blood. 

During 1999 Kargil war, after its induction into Dras sub-sector in early June, 13 JAK RIF was tasked to re-capture Pt 4875 in Mushkoh valley. This feature, which overlooked the valley as well as the National Highway 1D, is a lifeline of all troops and civilians in Kargil, Leh and beyond. It was of strategic importance and its re-capture at the earliest was the key to furthering the operations. The intruders knew the importance of holding onto it and had fortified it and held it in strength. The information available on the enemy's strength and dispositions on the feature was scanty and therefore extensive day and night patrolling was done including the registration of targets for own artillery fire support. And by last light July 4, 1999, 13 JAK RIF was ready to display its might and the stuff its officers and the men are made of.

As per plans, the 'Hotel-hour' (time at which the attack commences) for the attack was fixed for 9 pm on July 4, the attack that was to culminate into not only a spectacular victory for the battalion, but also one of its brave-hearts Rifleman (Rfn) Sanjay Kumar earning for himself the highest gallantry military decoration in the face of the enemy. 

The battle account of the gallantry for which Rfn Sanjay Kumar was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, recorded in the war diary of 13 JAK RIF battalion reads: “Number 13760533Y Rifleman Sanjay Kumar volunteered to be the leading scout of the attacking column tasked to capture area Flat Top on July 4, 1999. As the attack progressed, the enemy's automatic fire from one of the bunkers posed a stiff opposition thereby stalling the column. Rifleman Sanjay, realising the gravity of the situation, displayed indomitable spirit, grit, determination and unadulterated courage, when he charged the enemy bunker with utter disregard to personal safety. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, he killed three of the intruders and despite being injured, charged on to the second bunker. The enemy was taken totally by surprise and they left behind one universal machine gun and started running. Rifleman Sanjay picked up the left-behind weapon by the enemy and killed the fleeing enemy. Although Rifleman Sanjay was profusely bleeding from his wounds, he refused to be evacuated and kept encouraging his comrades till he was finally evacuated. This super human act of Rifleman Sanjay motivated his comrades, who took no notice of the treacherous terrain, and charged on to the enemy thus clearing the enemy position with vengeance in their hearts, thereby wresting area Flat Top from the hands of the enemy.” 

Till date, '13 JAK RIF (Kargil)' has the unique distinction of being the only battalion in the Indian Army to have won two highest gallantry awards in a single war. 

When Sanjay made his battalion proud, the same night, in the neighbouring sub-sector, another youngster, the youngest PVC awardee — Grenadier Yogender Yadav of 18 Grenadiers — was most menacingly eliminating one enemy after another and was on his way to becoming the third PVC recipient among the grinders. 

It can be a coincidence or whatever. In Kargil war that lasted two months and eight days, all four Param Vir Chakras were awarded during the battles fiercely fought and won during the first week of June 1999. 

Sanjay Kumar, the living legend, now a Subedar, is serving as a weapon-training instructor at the prestigious Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. His teen-aged son and a daughter have all the reasons to carry forward the legacy of their father whom the entire nation reveres and salutes with honour. 

Battle account as recorded in war diary of 13 JAK RIF battalion

“Number 13760533Y Rifleman Sanjay Kumar volunteered to be the leading scout of the attacking column tasked to capture area Flat Top on July 4, 1999. As the attack progressed, the enemy's automatic fire from one of the bunkers posed a stiff opposition thereby stalling the column. Rifleman Sanjay, realising the gravity of the situation, displayed indomitable spirit, grit, determination and unadulterated courage, when he charged the enemy bunker with utter disregard to personal safety. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, he killed three of the intruders and despite being injured, charged on to the second bunker. The enemy was taken totally by surprise and they left behind one universal machine gun and started running. Rifleman Sanjay picked up the left-behind weapon by the enemy and killed the fleeing enemy. Although Rifleman Sanjay was profusely bleeding from his wounds, he refused to be evacuated and kept encouraging his comrades till he was finally evacuated. This super human act of Rifleman Sanjay motivated his comrades, who took no notice of the treacherous terrain, and charged on to the enemy thus clearing the enemy position with vengeance in their hearts, thereby wresting area Flat Top from the hands of the enemy.” 

A living legend

Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, now a Subedar, is serving as a weapon-training instructor at the prestigious Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. His teen-aged son and a daughter have all the reasons to carry forward the legacy of their father whom the entire nation reveres and salutes with honour.

(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)

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