Captain Sunit Barnie VrC

Captain Sunit Barnie hailed from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and was born on August 10, 1969, to Shri NB Barnie. From an early age, he displayed a deep sense of patriotism and a strong desire to serve his country by joining the Indian Army. This unwavering ambition drove him to pursue a career in the armed forces. His dedication and determination led him to secure admission into the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, where he underwent rigorous training to become a competent and capable officer. Throughout his training, he demonstrated remarkable discipline, resilience, and leadership qualities, earning the admiration of his peers and instructors alike.

After successfully completing his training, he was commissioned into the 16 Sikh Light Infantry battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment, a distinguished and decorated infantry regiment of the Indian Army known for its valour and rich history of military achievements. Determined to excel, Captain Barnie worked tirelessly to sharpen his soldierly skills, developing into a tough and resourceful officer. In 1995, Captain Barnie was deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, an area notorious for frequent ceasefire violations and militant infiltration attempts. Aware of the challenging conditions and heightened risks, Captain Barnie committed himself to his responsibilities with steadfast determination, prepared to face any threat in the defence of his nation.

Tangdhar Operation: 08 Apr 1995

During 1995, Captain Sunit Barnie's unit 16 Sikh LI was deployed in the Kupwara district of J & K for counterinsurgency operations. The Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district was very volatile and was often used by the militants to infiltrate Indian territory. Consequently, the troops had to keep a very strict vigil and face challenging situations on a regular basis. On April 8, 1995, at approximately 7:40 PM, enemy forces from the Mirpur and Upper Sanjoi posts launched an intense and sustained attack on the Indian Army post known as 'Hump.' This post, situated just 150 meters from the Line of Control (LoC) in the Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, was a critical defensive position. Given its strategic importance, the 'Hump' post was highly vulnerable to enemy aggression. Captain Sunit Barnie, serving as the post commander, was responsible for the safety of the soldiers and the security of the post. As the enemy fire intensified, a group of militants exploited the ongoing assault to infiltrate the area. Crawling under the cover of darkness from the western side of the post, they approached dangerously close and began firing rockets and small arms to breach the defenses.

Amid the escalating crisis, Captain Sunit Barnie sprang into action. Operating a medium machine gun (MMG), he began retaliating with precision fire against the enemy's Mirpur Heights post. Displaying exceptional bravery and a complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Berni decided to reposition his MMG to a more strategic vantage point. Despite being under intense enemy fire, he single-handedly moved the MMG to a new position from where he could effectively counter the militants' rocket fire and protect his post. During this courageous maneuver, a rocket fired by the militants exploded nearby, and a sharp splinter struck Captain Barnie in the left groin. Severely wounded and bleeding profusely, Captain Barnie refused to be evacuated. Determined to protect his men and hold his position, he continued to engage the militants with unyielding resolve until their fire was finally suppressed, forcing them to retreat around 10:00 PM.

Tragically, Captain Barnie's injuries proved fatal. Despite efforts to evacuate him for urgent medical treatment, he succumbed to his wounds at approximately 1:30 AM on April 9, 1995. Captain Sunit Barniei's extraordinary courage, leadership, and unwavering dedication to duty in the face of overwhelming odds stand as a testament to his remarkable valour and selfless sacrifice. In recognition of his exceptional bravery, he was posthumously awarded the prestigious "Vir Chakra" on January 26, 1996. 

The citation for the ‘Vir Chakra’ awarded to him reads :

On 08 April 1995 at 1940 hours enemy posts Mirpur and Upper Sanjoi opened very heavy fire on own post Hump located approximately 150 metres away from Line of Control. Captain Sunit Barnie was Post commander of at a very sensitive Post 'Hump'. While the firing was going on, some militants crept in close to the Post from the West and started firing rockets and small arms. Captain Sunit Barnie who was firing MMG on enemy post. Mirpur Heights, with utter disregard to personal safety moved the MMG single handedly to another position from where he could effectively neutralise the rocket fire of the militants under very heavy fire from the enemy posts. One rocket fired by the militants landed in the close proximity of Captain Barnie and he was hit by a sharpnel in the left groin. Despite being seriously wounded, Captain Barnie refused to be evacuated and continued to engage the militants by fire till their fire was suppressed and they finally fled around 2200 hours. Being seriously wounded, he succumbed to his wounds enroute at 0130 hours on 09 April 1995.

Captain Sunit Barnie, thus, displayed pre-eminent valour and spirit of self sacrifice.