Vikas Vohra
Colonel (Retd.) Vikas Vohra | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 January 1968 New Delhi, India |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Service/ |  Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1988 to 2010 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Service number | IC-47825W |
| Unit | 13 JAK RIF |
| Battles/wars | Kargil War Operation Vijay Battle of Point 5140 Battle of Point 4875, Batra Top |
| Awards |  Vir Chakra |
Colonel (Retd.) Vikas Vohra, participated in Capture of Point 5140 and Capture of Point 4875, Batra Top during Operation Vijay in Dras sector and was awarded VrC.
Battle for Gun Hill at Batra Top[edit]
Delta 'D' company led by Vikas Vohra for the Battle of Point 4875 reinforced the advance company on the night of 6-7 July 1999. On arriving there they detected an enemy presence on a long and narrow ledge, running north from Point 4875. On the ledge, the enemy were holding strong sangars echeloned one behind the other. Thereafter, D company decided to secure Point 4875 towards Ledge (renamed Gun Hill) from where the firing was coming. Vikram Batra and 25 comrades volunteered to clear the Ledge extending almost 600m which was the most formidable area of Pt 4875. Climbing vertically soldiers neared the top, visibility was almost zero because of fog. Even worse, it began snowing as they advanced. A Pakistani machine gun position firing at the trapped company of Captain Nagappa at Flat Top area was silenced on their way. Before first light on 7 July, the troops succeeded in knocking out two more enemy machine guns, however, firing from the ledge continued. D company soon reached the ledge, though by this time it was broad daylight.[1][2] At 0530 hours they took out a patrol to recce a route to reinforce Nagappa from a flank and realised that there was no way from the left or right, decided to make a direct daylight frontal assault.[3]They advanced on them inch by inch under the cover of artillery fire, flame throwers and rocket launchers with supporting fire from the rest of the patrol under a great personal risk from heavy enemy machine gun fire and grenade launchers, screaming the battle cry of his regiment, Durga mata ki jai, Vohra and Batra charged the sangar firing incessantly from their AK-47 reaching the very narrow entrance of the sangar. When they finally came upon them, some were taking meals. Their tea was piping hot. They were caught completely unawares.[4] Taking the enemy by complete surprise, Vohra killed 2 Pakistani soldiers in a close combat and Batra killed 5 Pakistani soldiers and the Indians gained a foothold on the ledge.[5]
Vir Chakra[edit]
Vikas Vohra was awarded the Vir Chakra, India's highest military honour on 15 August 1999, the 52nd anniversary of India's independence. He received the award from the President of India, the late K. R. Narayanan.
The Vir Chakra citation reads as follows:
| “ | CITATION
MAJOR VIKAS VOHRA During "Operation Vijay", Major Vikas Vohra was commanding the Delta Company of 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, tasked to exploit and clear the area Ledge adjoining Point 4875 in the Mushkoh Valley and thereby maintaining the momentum of assault after the capture of enemy positions. The Ledge was strongly fortified, held in strength and impossible to outflank. Seeing no other option and knowing the inherent difficulties and stiff resistance expected, Major Vohra volunteered to lead a day assault for capturing area Ledge. Braving rugged and inhospitable terrain, steep escarpments, continuous heavy shelling and automatic fire; he led the assault from front thus motivating his men. In a daredevil action beyond the call of duty and showing true professional acumen, cool headedness, sheer grit, determination and raw courage, he assaulted the enemy position killing two intruders in a hand-to-hand combat. His brave action enabled his company to overcome the heavy enemy opposition thereby resulting in quick capture of area Ledge and recovery of a huge cache of arms and ammunition. Major Vikas Vohra acted with exemplary courage, determination, acumen and leadership qualities, leading to capture of an important objective in the Mushkoh Valley. |
” |
| — Gazette of India Notification: No. 18 – Press/2000 | ||
In popular media[edit]
- Actor Armaan Kohli played the role of Vikas Vohra in the film Kargil (2003)
- Actor Ankur Sharma played the role of Vikas Vohra in the film Shershaah (2021)
References[edit]
- ↑ Cardozo, Ian (2003). Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle. Roli Books Private Limited. p. 123. ISBN 9789351940296. Search this book on
- ↑ Sawant, Gaurav C. (2000). Dateline Kargil: A Correspondent's Nine-week Account from the Battlefront. Macmillan India. p. 186-187. ISBN 9780333934081. Search this book on
- ↑ Bammi, Y. M. (2002). Kargil 1999, impregnable conquered. Gorkha Publishers. p. 279. ISBN 9788175253520. Search this book on
- ↑ Bearak, Barry (17 July 1999). "India Buries Soldiers That Pakistan Won't Claim". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ↑ Sawant 2000, p. 187.
- ↑ Dabas, Col.(Retd.) Dilbag. "Major Vikas Vohra, Haryanvi braveheart of Kargil war". Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ↑ "Vir Chakra". Official Website of the Indian Army, No. 998.
- ↑ "Vir Chakra (VrC) Awardee: Maj Vikas Vohra, VrC". The War Decorated India & Trust. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
This article "Vikas Vohra" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Vikas Vohra. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
