26 July is observed as Kargil Vijay Diwas to honour the heroes of the Kargil War. During the Kargil War 1999, the Indian Army successfully recaptured the high outposts and forced the Pakistani troops to retreat across the Line of Control. Our brave Indian soldiers displayed historic and inspiring valour. The sacrifices of the martyrs also make us indebted for a lifetime. Over the years, we have seen several Bollywood movies based on Kargil War. Recently, we got to witness the biopic of Captain Vikram Batra starring Sidharth Malhotra. The film was well-received by the audience and left everyone in tears. We deserve some more biopics on Kargil War heroes. Here are a few spine-chilling stories of brave Kargil war heroes
1. Captain Saurabh Kalia
Captain Saurabh Kapila’s story is both inspiring and heartbreaking. In May 1999, during the Kargil War, Captain Saurabh Kalia, along with five other soldiers, was deployed in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir. They were part of a patrol unit assigned to gather intelligence and report on enemy troop movements. The six soldiers were captured alive after they ran out of ammunition during a prolonged gun battle that ran into several hours along the LOC. After 22 days, their bodies were recovered, badly mutilated. Their limbs were chopped off, eyes taken out and ear drums damaged with hot rods before they were shot to death. The Pakistani officials said that these Indian soldiers did not give out a word of information.
Capt. Saurabh was 22 when he was martyred. He laid down his life even before his first salary.
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2. Captain Anuj Nayyar
Captain Anuj Nayyar was an officer in the Indian Army’s 17th Battalion, Jat Regiment. During the Kargil War in 1999, he was deployed in the Dras sector, one of the most critical and fiercely contested areas of the conflict. He was tasked with leading his troops in capturing the Tiger Hill, a strategically important peak that was heavily fortified by Pakistani forces.
On June 29, 1999, Captain Nayyar and his team launched the assault on Tiger Hill. Despite the challenging terrain and enemy resistance, Captain Nayyar displayed exceptional leadership. During the battle, Captain Nayyar was injured, but he refused to leave the battlefield. Instead, he continued to lead his men from the front, inspiring them by his actions and words. After several days of intense fighting, Tiger Hill was finally captured, but Captain Anuj Nayyar tragically lost his life. He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second-highest military award.
3. Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey
During the Kargil War, Captain Pandey’s battalion was tasked with capturing the crucial Khalubar heights in the Batalik sector, which was heavily defended by well-entrenched Pakistani troops. On the night of July 2, 1999, the battalion launched its assault, with Captain Pandey leading his platoon from the front.
Despite heavy firing from enemies, Captain Pandey fearlessly charged ahead. In a daring move, he personally led the attack on an enemy bunker, eliminating two enemy soldiers in close combat. Despite being injured in the process, he continued to lead his men with unwavering determination. Under his command, the platoon captured the strategic position on Khalubar heights. However, the victory came at a heavy cost. During the battle, Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey was tragically hit by enemy fire and succumbed to his injuries.
4. Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav
He served in the Indian Army’s 18 Grenadiers regiment during the Kargil War. On the night of July 3, 1999, during the Kargil War, Grenadier Yadav’s platoon was tasked with capturing three strategic enemy bunkers at the Tiger Hill, which was heavily fortified and defended by Pakistani troops. As they approached the bunkers, they came under intense enemy fire, including automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.
Grenadier Yadav volunteered to lead the assault on the first enemy bunker. Scaling the steep, icy cliffs, he climbed the vertical face, even after being shot in the leg. Undeterred, he reached the top and took out the first enemy bunker, killing several enemy soldiers in the process.
Despite several injuries, he didn’t stop. He took 15 bullets and successfully accomplished the mission. At the age of 19, he became the youngest recipient of Param Veer Chakra to date.
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