Hav Kashiray Bammanalli SC

Hav Kashiray Bammanalli hailed from Ukkal village in Basavana Bagewadi tehsil of Vijayapura district in Karnataka and was born in the year 1984. After completing his initial education, he joined the Army in 2006 at the age of 22 years. He was recruited into the Corps of Engineers, the important combat support arm of the Indian Army.

He gradually developed into a dedicated and professionally competent soldier.  After serving for some time with his parent Corps, he was deputed to serve with 44 RR Battalion, deployed in J&K for counter-insurgency operations. By the year 2021, Hav Kashiray had put in around 15 years of service and had served in various challenging operational areas. 

Pulwama Operation: 01st July 2021

During Jul 2021, Hav Kashiray Bammanalli's unit 44 RR was deployed in the Pulwama district of J & K  and was involved in operations against the militants on a regular basis. On 30 June 2021, the unit received information about the presence of terrorists in Hanjan village of Pulwama district falling under its AOR(Area of Responsibility).  A decision was taken to launch an operation to nab or eliminate the terrorists at the earliest. Hav Kashiray was made part of the team that was assigned the task of undertaking this operation. As planned Hav Kashiray and his comrades reached the suspected area and launched the search and cordon operation in the night of 30 June 2021. 

Hav Kashiray was functioning as Combat Action Team leader and laid a cordon towards likely escape route along with the orchards. At 2315 hours, the terrorists tried to flee by lobbing grenades and firing indiscriminately in the direction of Hav Kashiray. He responded with accurate fire and pushed the terrorists back inside the house. At 2350 hours, in yet another desperate attempt to break the cordon, the terrorists lobbed grenades and brought heavy fire on Hav Kashiray. Despite sustaining a grievous injury on his chest, he brought down accurate fire and eliminated a terrorist. Sensing grave danger to his flank, he crawled forward to a vantage position despite bleeding heavily. He then accurately engaged three other terrorists from close range, thereby saving the lives of his Combat Action Team members. The terrorists were subsequently neutralized.

However while doing so, Hav Kashiray got severely injured and was evacuated to 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar for medical treatment. But Hav Kashiray later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Hav Kashiray was a valiant and dedicated soldier, who laid down his life in the service of the nation. Hav Kashiray was given the nation’s third-highest gallantry award “Shaurya Chakra” posthumously on 26 Jan 2022, for his commendable bravery, devotion to duty, camaraderie and supreme sacrifice. 

Hav Kashiray Bammanalli is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

The citation for "Shaurya  Chakra" awarded to him reads:

Based on specific input regarding the presence of four or five terrorists in a village in the Pulwama district, a cordon and search operation was launched on July 1, 2021. Havildar Kashiray Bammanalli was Combat Action Team leader and laid a cordon towards likely escape route along with the orchards. At 2315 hours, the terrorists tried to flee by lobbing grenades and firing indiscriminately in the direction of Havildar Kashiray. He responded with accurate fire and pushed the terrorists back inside the house. At 2350 hours, in yet another desperate attempt to break the cordon, the terrorists lobbed grenades and brought heavy fire on Havildar Kashiray. Despite sustaining a grievous injury on his chest, he brought down accurate fire and eliminated a terrorist. He crawled forward to a vantage position despite bleeding heavily and sensing danger to his flank. He accurately engaged three other terrorists from close range, thereby saving the lives of his Combat Action Team members. The terrorists were subsequently neutralized. In doing so, Havildar Kashiray Bammanalli made the supreme sacrifice. 

He has been awarded Shaurya Chakra (Posthumously)