Hav P K Kamalasanan VrC

Hav P K Kamalasanan was born on 8th December 1959 in Naranganam village in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. Son of Shri K Narayanan and Smt Kuttiyamma, Hav Kamalasanan was recruited into 12 Madras of the well known Madras Regiment on 4th November 1979. In the year 1987, Hav Kamalasanan’s unit was sent to Sri Lanka as part of IPKF contingent.

Sri Lankan Operations : Op Pawan- 04 Nov 1987

The IPKF launched its first operation on 9 October 1987 after formulating a multi-pronged strategy to take on LTTE. Code-named Operation Op Pawan, it was expected to neutralize LTTE operational capability in and around Jaffna. This included the capture or neutralization of the LTTE’s chain of command, which was expected to leave the rebel movement directionless in the face of the impending assault on the LTTE strongholds by the IPKF. Ultimately, after two weeks of bitter fighting the IPKF wrested control of Jaffna and other major cities from the LTTE, but operations continued for the capture of Jaffna Fort.

On 04 Nov 1987, Hav Kamalasanan’s unit was tasked to launch a search operation in the suspected hideout of LTTE militants. Hav Kamalasanan was the team havaldar of No.2 batch that went for search operations along road Chavakchcheri – Savasalai – Meesalai. When the team reached near road junction in the area Meesalai at about 1235 hours, the militants fired on a section from the houses on the East of the road. It was a pre-planned and well coordinated attack by militants on the section of the team and it pinned them down.

Hav Kamalasanan spotted two militants who were bringing down effective fire on the team. He realized that the two militants had to be neutralized somehow to save his comrades and carry on with the assigned task of the unit. Hav Kamalasanan without caring for his own safety, in a daring act of courage charged at the militants firing from his rifle. The militants taken aback by the daredevilry panicked and fired indiscriminately before abandoning their positions. Hav Kamalasanan’s action saved his team mates from the militants’s fire and gave them crucial time to regroup and attack the militants. However in the exchange of fire Hav Kamalasanan got hit by two bullets in the abdomen and was martyred.

Hav Kamalasanan was awarded “Vir Chakra”, for his exceptional courage, determination and supreme sacrifice.