2nd Lt Pravin Kumar Jindal SM

Second Lieutenant Pravin Kumar Jindal hailed from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Right from his early years, he displayed a strong sense of purpose and a deep desire to contribute to the nation. After completing his education, he chose the path of valour and honour by joining the Indian Army, dedicating himself to the service of the motherland. He was commissioned into the 6 Kumaon Regiment, one of the most distinguished and battle-hardened regiments of the Indian Army, known for its fearless soldiers and glorious legacy of gallantry. Soon after his commissioning, 2nd Lt Jindal was deployed to the insurgency-affected areas of the North-East. The region, with its challenging terrain and volatile environment, demanded immense mental resilience and physical endurance. In the face of constant threats and hostile encounters, his qualities of leadership, and devotion to duty shone brightly, marking him as a young officer of exceptional promise.

Manipur Operations: 1961-1962

During 1961, 2nd Lt PK Jindal's unit was deployed in Manipur. On 10 June 1961, information reached the Army authorities that a meeting of armed Naga hostiles was scheduled in a village in Manipur State. A column consisting of two Junior Commissioned Officers and forty Other Ranks, under the command of 2nd Lt Jindal, was tasked with raiding the village and apprehending the hostiles. As the troops approached, the insurgents attempted to flee. Quickly assessing the situation, 2nd Lt Jindal ordered his men to open fire. In the ensuing action, a notorious hostile was killed, marking the first of many successful operations under his leadership. A month later, on 9 July 1961, 2nd Lt Jindal once again led from the front. He commanded a patrol of ten Other Ranks through extremely difficult terrain, thick with tropical forest, crisscrossed by swollen nullahs and rivulets. The patrol’s mission was to verify the condition of boundary pillars on the Manipur–Burma border, a task fraught with logistical and physical challenges. Undeterred by the terrain and hardships, he successfully completed the mission on 22 July 1961, displaying perseverance and leadership in testing conditions.

During the February 1962 elections in Manipur, information was received that armed Naga hostiles had ambushed a polling party. The polling officials fled back to Luphal, leaving their ballot boxes at the ambush site, while the escort troops withdrew to a safer location. 2nd Lt. Jindal, with a column of 25 Other Ranks, was dispatched to locate the escort party and recover the abandoned ballot boxes. Moving swiftly across steep hills and rugged terrain, he located the escort party, retrieved most of the ballot boxes, and assisted in re-establishing the polling station. Soon after, a large force of hostiles opened automatic fire from three directions in an attempt to disrupt the elections. With 1 JCO and 20 Other Ranks, 2nd Lt. Jindal rushed to reinforce the defenders of the polling station. The arrival of reinforcements deterred the hostiles, allowing polling to continue without further serious incident, apart from occasional sporadic firing. After the polling concluded, the party, now escorted, began its return journey with the ballot boxes. 2nd Lt. Jindal’s detachment acted as the rear guard. En route through dense jungle, the hostiles launched a sudden, point-blank attack from a concealed vantage point. Braving heavy enemy fire, 2nd Lt. Jindal displayed exceptional courage and determination by personally leading an assault on the hostile position. His bold action killed one hostile and forced the remainder to retreat. He was honoured with the Sena Medal in recognition of his exceptional leadership, remarkable gallantry, and unwavering devotion to duty.

"Battle of Walong" (Indo-China War) : Oct -Nov 1962

During the 1962 Indo-China war, 2nd Lieutenant Pravin Kumar Jindal's unit 6 Kumaon was deployed in Siang Frontier Division, south of Mc Mohan line along the border. By third week of Oct 1962, India had already faced many reverses in the war and many organisational changes were made to deal with the situation. Initially 5 Infantry Brigade was responsible for the Walong Sector. As a sequel to the reorganization, after the fall of Tawang, a new formation 2 Infantry Division was raised with Maj Gen MS Pathania as the GOC. The newly raised Division was assigned the responsibility of the whole of NEFA, less Kameng (Tawang) Sector. Consequently, 181 Infantry Brigade was allocated for Walong Sector. However, later on GOC’s insistence, entire 181 Infantry Brigade was moved out and 11 Infantry Brigade under Brigadier NC Rawlley was moved to Walong. Though the main axes of penetration by the Chinese forces were Tawang-Bomdila-Rupa axis, the Taksing-Limeking Axis, Mechuka/Manigong-Tato axis, the Gelling-Tuting axis, and the Kibithu-Walong axis, some fierce battles were fought in the Walong-Kibithu area of present Anjaw district. 2nd Lieutenant Pravin Kumar Jindal’s unit 6 Kumaon was part of the bloody "Battle of Walong".

He played a pivotal role in the Battle of Walong at the strategic Tri-Junction on 14th and 15th November 1962, where Indian troops put up a determined and heroic resistance against overwhelming enemy forces. Even amid the intense combat and harsh mountain terrain, 2nd Lt Jindal displayed exceptional courage and leadership, inspiring his men to fight valiantly. On 16th November 1962, while attempting to rescue a fellow soldier in the rugged and treacherous terrain, he tragically slipped into a deep gorge and lost his life in the line of duty. His actions remain a shining example of selflessness and devotion to comrades, reflecting the finest traditions of the Indian Army. Through these operations, 2nd Lt Jindal consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, bravery, and unwavering devotion to duty, ensuring the success of his missions under extremely challenging and dangerous conditions.

The citation for "Sena Medal" awarded to him reads:

On 10th June 1961, information was received that a meeting of armed Naga hostiles was scheduled to be held at a village in Manipur State. A column of 2 Junior Commissioned Officers and 40 Other Ranks, led by 2nd Lieutenant Jindal, was detailed to raid the village and to apprehend the hostiles. On seeing the troops, the hostiles started to leave the village, but 2nd Lieutenant Jindal correctly appreciating the situation ordered his men to open fire on them, in the action, a notorious hostile was killed.

Again, on 9th July 1961, 2nd Lieutenant Jindal led a patrol of 10 Other Ranks through difficult terrain covered with dense tropical forest and interspersed with numerous nullahs and removal of rivulets in spate to verity a report about the boundary pillars on the Manipur Burma border, He success- fully completed this task on 22nd July 1961. During the elections in Manipur State in February 1962, information was received that armed Naga hostiles had ambushed a Polling party. The Polling party fled back to Imphal leaving behind ballot boxes at the ambush site and the escort troops withdrew to a safe place. With a column of 25 Other Ranks, 2nd Lieutenant Jindal was sent to locate the escort party and to recover the ballet boxes. Climbing steep hills, he proceeded to the ambush site as fast as possible, located the escort party. recovered most of the ballot boxes and assisted in establishing the polling station. Later, a large body of hostiles opened automatic fire on the polling station from three directions in order to disrupt the elections. 2nd Lieutenant Jindal with a party of 1 Junior Commissioned Officer and 20 Other Ranks was rushed to reinforce the force protecting the polling station. On seeing the reinforcements the hostiles stopped hiring and polling was conducted without any further incident, except for sporadic firing.

On completion of polling, the Polling party, duly escorted was returning with the ballot boxes, 2nd Lieutenant Jindal with his reinforcement was acting as rear guard. On the way the hostiles fired on the rear guard at point blank range from a vantage point in the jungle. Despite the hail of bullets, 2nd Lieutenant Jindal with great courage and determination assault led the hostile position, killing one of the hostiles and putting the rest to fight. In these tasks, 2nd Lieutenant Jindal displayed commendable leadership, courage and devotion to duty.