Guardsman Dambar Bahadur Chhetri VrC

Guardsman Dambar Bahadur Chhetri hailed from Lapsibot village of Pallo Nawakot district in Nepal and was born on 4th April 1945. Son of Shri Dina Nath Chhetri, he joined the Indian Army after completing his initial schooling on 04 Apr 1963 at the age of 18 years. He was enrolled into the 5 Guards Battalion of the Brigade of the Guards, an infantry Regiment known for its gallant soldiers with a long history of numerous battle exploits. 

Indo-Pak War (J&K): 06 Sep 1965  

During Sep 1965 Gdsm Dambar Bahadur Chhetri's unit 5 Guards was deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indo-Pak war actually commenced on 01 Sep 1965, when Pakistani forces attacked the Chhamb sector. As part of ongoing operations against the enemy, Gdsm DB Chhetri's unit 5 Guards along with 6/8 GR battalion was tasked to attack and capture an enemy post in the Lahore sector. The assigned task was to secure the enemy post by 0400 hours on 06 Sep 1965 in the Lahore Sector in Pakistan. Capt RC Bakshi, who was functioning as a 'Company Commander' of one of the companies of 6/8 GR at that time, was tasked to lead that operation. Gdsm DB Chhetri and his comrades swung into action and launched a fierce attack on the enemy.

As the enemy post had strategic importance for the enemy, it had been alerted and reinforced. As the attack commenced, the enemy used MMG and mortar and put up a stiff resistance.  During the heavy exchange of fire, Gdsm Chhetri got seriously wounded in the chest by enemy medium machine gun fire. Despite his wounds, he kept on encouraging his men and rushed forward in the face of intensive enemy mortar and MMG fire which again wounded him seriously. Thereafter, he was hit a third time by enemy automatic fire in the left shoulder and hand, but he staggered on to the objective and firing his weapon, inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. However after the final assault and capture of the objective, he succumbed to his wounds and was martyred. Gdsm DB Chhetrii showed commendable bravery in the face of the enemy with utter disregard for his personal safety and made the supreme sacrifice. Gdsm DB Chhetrii was a valiant and gritty soldier, who laid down his life at the age of 20 years in the line of his duty.

Guardsman Dambar Bahadur Chhetri was posthumously awarded “Vir Chakra” on 15 August 1966, for his dauntless courage, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice.

Citation for the Vir Chakra awarded to him reads:-

On the 6th September 1965, when his company was attacking a strongly held enemy position in the Lahore sector, Guardsman Dambar Bahadur Chettri was seriously wounded in the chest by enemy medium machine gun fire. Despite his wounds, he kept on encouraging his men and rushed forward in the face of intensive enemy mortar and MMG fire which again wounded him seriously. He was hit a third time by enemy automatic fire in the left shoulder and hand, but he staggered on to the objective and firing his weapon, inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. After the final assault and capture of the objective, he dropped dead. 

Guardsman Dambar Bahadur Chhetri displayed exemplary courage and determination.