On 22 July, 1999, during Operation Vijay in Kargil War, Lieutenant Praveen Kumar Barak, Ghatak Platoon Commander of 14th Sikh Battalion was tasked to capture Pt 5310, the highest feature in Batalik subsector by the first light of July 23, 1999. The dominant Point 5310 in the Chorbatla Sector, 3 km deep inside enemy territory, overlooked a crucial enemy supply line.

 

 

 

After detailed reconnaissance of the routes to the objective, on July 22, 1999, at 9 pm, Lt Praveen Kumar, along with his platoon, began the arduous approach march to Point 5310. The Ghataks, led by the young subaltern, negotiated a 1,000-feet high ice wall and then carefully crossed a glaciated bowl riddled with crevasses to reach the base of Point 5310.

 

 

Lt. Praveen Kumar’s group scaled a near-vertical cliff a foot a time by fixing rope ladders over a distance of 250 metres. The final push to the objective took the enemy completely by surprise as they discovered the presence of the Sikhs only the next morning. By then Lt Praveen Kumar had organised his defences, sited automatic weapons and was prepared to defend Point 5310 against any attack.

 

 

In the battle that followed, he destroyed four fortified enemy positions; a fuel and ammunition dump, and killed 15 enemy soldiers. All this was achieved without suffering any casualties on his side.

  

For capturing a tactically important objective without suffering any casualty, Lt Praveen Kumar, for his professional excellence and immense courage, was awarded the Vir Chakra.