25 June 1975: Birth Anniversary of Param Vir Chakra Awardee Capt. Manoj Pandey, the Fearless Hero of Kargil War

On the birth anniversary of Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, we remember Bharat Mata’s one of the most valiant sons who laid down his life during the 1999 Kargil War and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, country’s highest wartime gallantry award. His bravery, selflessness, and undying spirit remain etched in the nation’s memory.

 

 

Born on June 25, 1975, in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh, Captain Pandey was commissioned into the 1/11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army. Even during his SSB interview, he had once said, “If death strikes before I prove my blood, I promise, I will kill death.” These were not just words - he lived and died by them.

 

 

 

 

Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey took part in a series of boldly led attacks during Operation Vijay; forcing back the intruders with heavy losses in Batalik including the capture of Jubar Top.

 

 

On the night of 2/3 July 1999 during the advance to Khalubar as his platoon approached its final objective, it came under heavy and intense enemy fire from the surrounding heights. Captain Pandey was tasked to clear the interfering enemy positions to prevent his battalion from getting day lighted, being in a vulnerable position. He quickly moved his platoon to an advantageous position under intense enemy fire, sent one section to clear the enemy positions from the right and himself proceeded to clear the enemy positions from the left.

  

 

Fearlessly assaulting the first enemy position, he killed two enemy personnel and destroyed the second position by killing two more. He was injured on the shoulder and legs while clearing the third position. Undaunted and without caring for his grievous injuries, he continued to lead the assault on the fourth position urging his men and destroyed the same with a grenade, even as he got a fatal burst on his forehead. Captain Manoj later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred at the age of 24 years.

 

 

 

 

 

The troops under the command of Captain Manoj gained control over six bunkers and killed eleven enemy soldiers besides getting a good stock of arms and ammunition including an air defense gun. Khalubar was eventually captured and Captain Pandey with his supreme sacrifice not set an example of unparalleled bravery but changed the course of Kargil war.