November 18, 2002: Remembering Shaurya Chakra Awardee Martyr Captain Umang Bhardwaj who laid down his life on this day but not before killing two terrorists in J&K’s Poonch
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Captain Umang Bhardwaj, Shaurya Chakra (P), 7 JAT, was an Indian Army Officer who made the supreme sacrifice on this day in 2002 during an anti-insurgency ops in J&K’s Poonch district, but not before eliminating 2 terrorists on the spot.
Poonch Sector Operation : November 18, 2002
During 2002, Capt Umang’s unit was deployed in Poonch sector of J & K for anti insurgency operations.
On the midnight of November 18, his unit got a tip-off that terrorists were preparing to sneak into the Valley along Rajouri-Poonch sector near the Line of Control that night.
A decision was taken to engage the terrorists in a search and destroy operation. Capt Umang was tasked along with a team to lead the assault on the infiltrators.
In an ambush he noticed terrorists approach the site, he held fire till they were as close as ten meters and himself sprung the ambush killing the leading terrorist instantly. While the other terrorists took position and engaged own ambush, one terrorist tried to escape down hill into the nala. Captain Bhardwaj unmindful of grave danger to him, rose from cover and ran parallel to that terrorist and engaged him at point blank range. In doing so he shot dead the second terrorist but in the process laid down his life.
Captain Umang was barely 25 years old when he displayed professionalism, inspiring leadership, exceptional gallantry and made the supreme sacrifice while fighting the terrorists. For his unflinching courage and leadership of very high order Capt Umang was awarded “Shaurya Chakra” posthumously.