Captain Kanad Bhattacharya SM

Capt Kanad Bhattacharya hailed from Baranagar in Kolkata in West Bengal. Son of an income tax officer, Capt Kanad was born and brought up at Tala near Shyambazar in north Calcutta. He studied in St. James School and graduated from SA Jaipuria college in Kolkata. Capt Kanad was a keen sportsman during his student days and played cricket very well. He also had an inclination towards martial arts and was a karate black belt holder.

Capt Kanad always nursed the idea of joining the armed forces and followed his dream after his college education. and a good cricketer. He joined the Army through OTA and was commissioned into 8 Sikh of the famed Sikh Regiment, one of the oldest regiments known for its intrepid soldiers and numerous battle honours. As his first assignment after commissioning, Capt Kanad got posted to the unit which was deployed in J &K and got involved in the Kargil war.

Kargil War: 21st May 1999

There were reports about Pakistani infiltration in May 1999 and Capt Kanad Bhattacharya’s unit was deployed along the LOC near Tiger Hill during that time. By the third week of May 1999, the legitimacy of these reports was proven and it had been established that the infiltration had been done on a large scale in various sectors, including the Tiger Hill area. Consequently, on 21 May, Capt Kanad Bhattacharya was tasked to establish a foothold on a northeastern ridge near Tiger Hill. The route was inaccessible and was covered with snow. While Sepoy Major Singh was climbing up, he detected the movement of intruders coming down with heavy weapons toward them. The intruders started firing at the patrol with heavy automatic and sniper fire. Capt Kanad Bhattacharya and Sepoy Major Singh divided the patrol into two groups and started engaging the intruders from different positions thereby displaying outstanding professional competence. The heavy exchange of fire continued between Capt Kanad’s patrol and the intruders.

Capt Kanad and his troops kept constantly returning the fire with grit and determination. In the ensuing firefight, a number of patrol members including Capt Kanad received multiple gunshot wounds. Capt Kanad Bhattacharya later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. The patrol could not come back and was declared missing in action on 21 May 99. The body of Capt Kanad Bhattacharya was recovered from the area of action on 15 Jul 99 buried in snow after the Indian forces had captured Tiger Hill. Capt Kanad was a gallant soldier and a fine officer who laid down his life in the service of the nation at the young age of 22 years.

Capt Kanad Bhattacharya was awarded the “Sena Medal” (Posthumous) for his courage, unyielding fighting spirit and supreme sacrifice.Capt Kanad Bhattacharya is survived by his mother Smt Purnima and sisters Purba Bhattacharya & Jaba Bhattacharya.

 The Tribune newspaper paid homage to Lt Kanad :

“Calcutta bids adieu to martyr’ – ‘Capt Kanad Bhattacharya, the first Kargil martyr from the city, was cremated with full military honours at Nimtollaghat in North Calcutta today. Braving a steady drizzle, hundreds of people, mostly youth, gathered at the historic crematorium since morning to pay their last respects to the 25-year-old hero”.