3 November,1976: Remembering Shaurya Chakra awardee Subedar Nand Ram who fought insurgency in Mizoram
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Subedar Nand Ram, a Shaurya Chakra awardee, is an Indian army officer who has been recognized for his valour and dedication in serving the nation. The Shaurya Chakra is a prestigious Indian military decoration awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy.
Nand Ram, was born on August 8, 1933 in Bhiwani district of Haryana. He was barely 17, when he was enrolled in the 6th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles on August 8, 1950.
The 6 Rajputana Rifles (Raj Rif) is the most decorated battalion in Rajputana Rifles Group post-independence.
Rifleman Nand Ram, with his devotion to duty and utmost loyalty to his Battalion's name, steadily rose through the ranks and was a Junior Commissioned Officer within just about 17 years of colour service.
November 3, 1976: the citation of his bravery reads…
“On November 3, 1976, Subedar Nand Ram was second in command of a special mission patrol tasked to intercept a gang of 70 Mizo hostiles, led by self-styled (SS) Mizo Colonel Biakvela, reported to be moving towards the border through south-west Mizoram with the intention of crossing over to Bangladesh. After a forced march for four hours, the patrol sighted the hostile's camp and a quick raid was mounted by the patrol leader. The hostiles opened up with light machine gun with bullets flying all over. Subedar Nand Ram waited for a few minutes for the intensity of the fire to come down and then led the assault on to the hostiles on the war cry "Raja Ramchandra ki Jai" and silenced the machine gun by seriously injuring its firing crew. Realising the ferocity of the assault, some hostiles took to the heels, but a sizable number stood fast and continued to cause casualties on the patrol. Though injured by a bullet and bleeding profusely, Subedar Nand Ram continued to press forward the assault on another machine gun, which had opened from another flank. Even after receiving another bullet, which hit his left shoulder, Subedar Nand Ram, undeterred by his injuries, crawled forward through the undergrowth and lobbed a hand grenade thereby destroying another machine gun of the hostiles. The undaunted courage and leadership of Subedar Nand Ram led to the apprehension of five hostiles and capture of a large quantity of weapons and ammunition. During this action, Subedar Nand Ram displayed gallantry and leadership of a high order, for which he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra.”