07 Jul 1999 in Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Indian army officer (13 JAK Rifles), he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for two acts of gallantry during the 1999 Kargil War - the capture of Point 5140 (20 Jun) and the attack on Point 4875 (07 Jul) where he was martyred. His dare-devilry earned him the title of 'Sher Shah' (Lion King) from the Pakistan Army.
EARLY LIFE
DAV Public School, Palampur,
Central School, Palampur,
DAV College, Chandigarh
Indian Military Academy (1996-97).
13 JAK Rifles (December 1997).
CITATION
In Dras Sector, the enemy held strong fortified positions, heavily reinforced with automatic weapons, with treacherous approaches dominating Srinagar-Leh Road, the lifeline of supplies to Leh.
On 20 June 1999, Captain Vikram Batra, Commander Delta Company, was tasked to attack point 5140 during Operation Vijay. Captain Vikram Batra, with his company, skirted around the feature from the East and maintaining surprise reached within the assaulting distance. The officer reorganized his column and motivated his men to physically assault the enemy positions. Leading his men from the front, the officer in a daredevil assault pounced on the enemy and killed four intruders in a hand-to-hand fight.
On 7 July 1999, in yet another operation in the area of Point 4875, the company of the officer was tasked to clear a narrow feature with sharp cuttings on either side and heavily fortified enemy defences that covered the only approach to it.
In order to speed up the operation, the officer decided to assault the enemy positions along a narrow ridge. Leading the assault, he engaged the enemy in a fierce hand-to-hand fight and killed five enemy soldiers at point blank range. In this action, Captain Batra sustained grievous injuries. Despite the serious injuries, he crawled towards the enemy and hurled grenades clearing the position. Leading from the front he rallied his men and pressed on the attack and achieved a near impossible military task in the face of heavy enemy fire with utter disregard for personal safety. The officer, however, succumbed to his injuries.
Inspired by this display of extraordinary junior leadership, the troops fell upon the enemy with vengeance and annihilated them, finally capturing Point 4875.
Captain Vikram Batra, thus, displayed the most conspicuous personal bravery and junior leadership of the highest order in the face of the enemy and made the supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Army.
#IndianArmy #JAKRIF #ParamVirChakra #Kargil #DAVCollege #Point5140 #Point4875 #SherShah #Chandigarh #Ghuggar #Palampur #YehDilMaangeMore
