Hav Raksh Paul KC

Hav Raksh Paul hailed from J&K and completed his primary education from his village. He later joined the army and was recruited into 16 Dogra battalion of Dogra Regiment, an infantry regiment with a glorious history of valour and battle honours.

Rajouri Sector Operation (J&K) : 01 Nov 1998

During 1998, Hav Raksh Paul's unit 16 Dogra was deployed in Rajouri district of J&K close to the Line of Control(LOC). The unit troops were engaged in counter-insurgency operations on a regular basis as its AOR (Area of Responsibility) was affected by active militancy. The LOC remained highly active and volatile with ceasefire violations occurring very often and without any warning. Besides manning the forward posts in the Rajouri district, Hav Raksh Paul’s unit also undertook operations to check the infiltration bids as its AOR was prone to infiltration by the militants from across the border. One such infiltration attempt was likely to happen on 01 Nov 1998 in Palma area in the unit's AOR, as per the intelligence sources. 

The unit decided to launch an operation to foil the infiltration bid and neutralize the militants.  Hav Raksh Paul was made part of the team that was assigned the operation. When Hav Raksh Paul and his comrades reached the suspected area in Palma in Rajouri district, they soon made contact with the infiltrators. The troops swung into action to tactically block the possible escape routes and engage them aggressively. A heavy gun battle ensued thereafter lasting several hours. Hav Raksh Paul without caring for his own safety, fought valiantly and managed to eliminate two terrorists. However during the exchange of fire, Hav Raksh Paul received gunshots and was seriously injured. He later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Hav Raksh Paul was a valiant and committed soldier, who laid down his life in the line of his duty. Hav Raksh Paul was a gallant and committed soldier, who laid down his life in the line of his duty. Hav Raksh Paul was given the nation’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, “Kirti Chakra” on 15 August 1999, for his outstanding courage, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice.