Captain Vikram Batra

The year was 1999, at the highest peaks of western Himalayas the winters had just passed and spring was setting in. These magnificent peaks unfortunately are also the line of control (LOC) between India and Pakistan. During chilly winter the temperature dips below -50 degrees, so the armies had a mutual understanding to not man the heights and come down to lower altitudes during months of peak winters. But the trust was broken when the Pakistan army disguised as terrorists and occupied the vacant Indian posts during the months of January to April.

The first patrolling party sent by Indian army was attacked, captured and tortured as later discovered when the platoon commander Captain Sourabh Kalia's mutilated body was returned to india. His skull broken, eyes gauged, nose ripped and body burnt by cigarettes. And much more.

Soon, the Indian army launched operation Vijay to clear the peaks and repel the enemy back. The area ranged from Batalic sector to Drass and Kargill, the heights of peaks almost 17000 ft. A crucial high altitude peak was point 5140 which was held by Pakistani forces in drass sector. It provided a commanding view of the surrounding area. Captain Vikram batra was tasked to capture the point. He along with his platoon marched to the peak which was like a open ground and they were exposed to the enemy. So they took cover behind rocks and climbed the heights at night and reached near their objective. When enemy got to know of their positions they came under intense enemy fire. They retaliated and fought with exceptional bravery. In the course of war they came in close contact with the enemy and hand to hand combat ensued. Captain Batra single handed killed 3 Pakistani soldiers. The point was cleared after a fierce fighting in bitter cold and height of 16800 feet. Captain Batra delivered his predecided success signal to Lt. Col. Y.K Joshi, "yeh dil mange more" (This heart desires more). The point is now called "Batra Top".

Soon after returning to base, inspite of his poor health and fever, he volunteered for a more difficult and dangerous task of capturing point 4875. Height was 15993 ft. and extreme weather conditions, terrain so difficult that is almost impossible to reach. Captain Vikram batra lead from the front. This operation involved climbing along with responding to enemy fire with direct assault techniques to dislodge the enemy. Captain Batra on way saw a machine gun firing and lodged a grenade, the bunker was destroyed. On reaching top by 5.30 in morning he did a patrol of area along with subedar Raghu Nath. Batra located a position of enemy sanagar on ledge from which machine guns were holding up the advance of his company. Since there was no way left or right, he decided to make a direct assault in daylight itself. Hw with platoon moved for ed in firing machine guns and grenade launchers with war cry "Durga mata ki jai" and charged the sangar firing from his AK-47. He sustained grievous injuries but continued to fight, reaching narrow entrance of sangar and killing 5 enemy soldies in close quarter battle. The Pakistanis started retreating. He pulled Lt. Naveen from a bunker and charged towards another bunker which had a machine gun firing. He killed all four members of the crew guarding machine gun single handedly.

Captain Batra realised one of his soldiers is shot. He when on to drag him to safety but was shot by a sniper in chest from a close range and a RPG splinter the very next second in his head. Captain Vikram Batra succumbed to his fatal wounds.

Vikram Batra was awarded Param Vir Chakra, the highest military honour on 15 August 1999 on 52 Independence Day of India. His father G.L Batra received the honour from President of India.

Captain Batra will always be remembered as a synonym to bravery and valour.