Gunner Sajeev G VrC

Gunner Sajeev Gopal Pillai hailed from Avaneeswaram village in Kollam district of Kerala and was born on 20 May 1974. He wanted to serve in the Armed Forces since his childhood. He continued to follow his dream and eventually joined the army after completing his schooling. He was enrolled into the 4 Field Regiment of the Regiment of Artillery, the important combat arm of the Indian Army, known for its field guns, howitzers, mortars, and other weaponry.

Kargil War: May - Jul 1999

During May 1999, Gnr Sajeev’s unit was deployed in the Batalik sector of J & K along the LOC. In May 1999, the Indian Army detected a massive infiltration by the Pakistani military and paramilitary forces in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir. The army quickly mobilized its forces to drive out the Pakistani infiltrators from Indian territory. 4 Fd Regt battalion too got deployed as part of ‘Op Vijay’ launched by the Army in response to Pakistan’s aggression. The battalion was deployed in the Battalik sector and was tasked to check infiltration in the area along with other infantry units and take appropriate action if needed. On 11 May 1999, Gnr Sajeev Gopal Pillai was deployed as an observation post assistant in the Batalik sub-sector of Kargil to combat enemy infiltrators. He volunteered for an extremely challenging mission with the forward observation officer to take control of Bump-2 in square 1391. On the morning of May 19, 1999, at 5:00 AM, while assisting the forward observation officer in directing continuous artillery fire against the enemy, the entire team found themselves surrounded by heavy and precise enemy shelling, causing many of our soldiers to sustain injuries.

Gunner Sajeev Gopal Pillai sustained injuries from shrapnel during the enemy's intense shelling. Despite multiple injuries, he continued to assist with directing highly accurate and rapid artillery fire against the enemy in harsh weather conditions, at an altitude of 16,500 feet in a rugged, snow-covered terrain. Disregarding his personal safety, Gnr Sajeev continued to provide all necessary technical data to his forward observation officer. Unfortunately, he sustained severe injuries to his head from an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) round. Later, during treatment, he succumbed to his injuries on 15 July 1999. For his act of bravery on the battlefield, Gnr Sajeev was given the nation’s third highest gallantry award, “Vir Chakra”, posthumously.

Gunner Sajeev Gopal Pillai is survived by his mother Smt Kuttyamma P.

The citation for the "Vir Chakra" awarded to him reads:

Gunner Sajeev Gopala Pillai was inducted into Batalik Sub Sector in Kargil on 11 May 1999 as Observation Post Assistant for engaging enemy intruders in the area. He volunteered for a more challenging task to accompany Forward Observation Officer in the mission to occupy Bump II in SQUARE-1391.

On 19 May 1999 at 0500 hours, while assisting the Forward Observation Officer in directing  continuous artillery fire upon the enemy and on reaching the objective, the entire team came under very heavy direct firing from the enemy causing large number of casualties to own troops. Gunner Sajeev Gopala Pillai sustained splinter injuries. Despite the multiple injuries, braving adverse weather conditions at 16,500 feet of rugged and glaciated terrain with heavy snow and high velocity winds, he continued to assist in bringing down very intense and accurate artillery fire on the enemy, resulting in heavy losses to the enemy. Gunner Pillai, with utter disregard to his personal safety continued to provide all the necessary technical data to his Forward Observation Officer. Suddenly, he was hit by an RPG round and sustained serious head injury. He succumbed to his injuries later on 15 July 1999.

Gunner Sajeev Gopala Pillai displayed indomitable courage, firm determination and gallantry of an exemplary order in the face of enemy.