Hav Sunil Kumar SM

Havildar Sunil Kumar hailed from Taranagar village in Bihta tehsil of Patna district in Bihar. He was born into a humble and patriotic family to Shri Vasudev Saw and Smt. Rukmini Devi. He shared a close bond with his family, including his brother Anil Kumar, who also served in the Indian Army—reflecting a strong tradition of service in the family. From an early age, Sunil Kumar displayed discipline, courage, and a deep sense of duty towards the nation. After completing his school education, he fulfilled his aspiration to serve the country by joining the Indian Army in 2004 at the young age of 18 years. He was recruited into the 16 Bihar Battalion of the Bihar Regiment, a distinguished infantry regiment renowned for its valour, operational excellence, and numerous battle honours. Through dedication and hard work, he steadily grew into a dependable and respected soldier within his unit.

A few years into his service, he married Ms Riti Kumari. The couple was blessed with three children—a daughter, Sonali, and two sons, Ayush and Virat—who became the centre of his world and his greatest source of motivation. Despite the demands of military life, he remained a devoted husband and a caring father, always placing his family’s well-being alongside his commitment to duty. By the year 2020, Havildar Sunil Kumar had completed nearly 16 years of distinguished service. During this period, he served in several challenging and sensitive operational areas, where he earned the respect of his seniors and the admiration of his comrades for his professionalism, courage, and unwavering dedication to duty.

Operation Snow Leopard (Battle of Galwan): 15 June 2020

By June 2020, Hav Sunil Kumar’s unit, 16 Bihar, was deployed in Eastern Ladakh, close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), as part of Operation Snow Leopard. From early May onwards, Chinese forces began attempting to block India’s long-established and traditional patrolling routes in the Galwan Valley, leading to a series of tense face-offs. Similar transgression attempts were reported at Kongka La, Gogra, and along the North Bank of Pangong Lake. Each of these incursions was promptly detected and firmly countered by Indian troops. In parallel, sustained diplomatic and military engagements conveyed India’s clear position that any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo along the LAC was unacceptable. As tensions mounted, senior military commanders of India and China met on 6 June 2020 and agreed to a phased disengagement based on reciprocal actions. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to respect the LAC and to avoid activities that could disturb the prevailing situation. However, in a blatant violation of this understanding, Chinese forces instigated a violent confrontation on the night of 15 June 2020 in the Galwan Valley.

Recognising the gravity of the situation and upholding the highest traditions of leadership, Col Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Battalion, personally led a small team to the friction point to engage the Chinese side and ensure compliance with the disengagement agreement. During the discussions, an altercation broke out, rapidly escalating into a scuffle. The situation soon spiralled into a brutal and violent clash, with Chinese troops—armed with improvised lethal weapons such as clubs and rods—launching a coordinated assault. The Indian soldiers were heavily outnumbered, and it became evident that the opposing side had come prepared for violence. As the clash intensified, Hav Sunil Kumar, along with his comrades, rushed forward to support their embattled fellow soldiers, standing shoulder to shoulder in defence of their commanding officer and unit. The confrontation raged for several hours in treacherous terrain under freezing conditions. During this prolonged and savage melee, many Indian soldiers sustained grievous injuries. Ultimately, Hav Sunil Kumar, Col Santosh Babu, and 18 other brave soldiers succumbed to their injuries and were martyred in the line of duty. The fallen heroes included Nb Sub Nanduram Soren, Nb Sub Satnam Singh, Nb Sub Mandeep Singh, Hav Bipul Roy, Hav K Palani, Naik Deepak Singh, Sep Ganesh Hansda, Sep Chandrakanta Pradhan, Sep Aman Kumar, Sep Kundan Kumar, Sep Rajesh Orang, Sep Ganesh Ram, Sep K.K. Ojha, Sep Jay Kishor Singh, Sep Gurtej Singh, Sep Ankush, and Sep Gurbinder Singh. Hav Sunil Kumar exemplified fearless courage, unwavering commitment, and selfless devotion to duty. In recognition of his exceptional bravery, devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the "Sena Medal" on 26 January 2021—a fitting tribute to a young soldier who gave everything for the nation.

Hav Sunil Kumar is survived by his father Shri Vasudev Saw, mother Smt Rukmini Devi, wife Smt Riti Kumari, daughter Ms Sonali and two sons Ayush & Virat.