Lance Naik Bachhav Shashikant Ganpat SC

Lance Naik Bachhav Shashikant Ganpat hailed from Dabali village in Waner tehsil of Nashik district, Maharashtra. He was born on 1st June 1979 to Shri Bachhav Ganpat. A bright and determined young man, he pursued his technical education and successfully completed his ITI Diploma from Malegaon. Driven by a strong sense of patriotism and a desire to serve the nation, he joined the Indian Army at the age of 21. He was inducted into the 9th Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, a unit renowned for its valiant legacy and fearless soldiers. After undergoing rigorous military training, he was deployed to Jammu and Kashmir as part of Operation Parakram—India's large-scale military mobilization in response to the terrorist attack on Parliament in 2001. Demonstrating courage and discipline, he carried out his duties in the high-risk operational environment.

Later, in 2005, L/Nk Bachhav was once again posted to the challenging and volatile high-altitude region of Jammu and Kashmir, this time under Operation Rakshak—a long-standing counter-insurgency and counter-infiltration initiative of the Indian Army. His dedication to duty and resilience in hostile terrain made him a dependable soldier within his unit. After a few years of service, L/Nk Bachhav entered a new chapter in his personal life. He got married to Ms. Rupali on 11th May 2006, with hopes of building a life grounded in love and companionship while continuing to serve the nation with honour and pride.

Uri Operation: 31 Jul 2007

In 2007, Lance Naik Bachhav Shashikant’s unit was deployed in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, an area known for frequent militant activity, as part of ongoing counter-insurgency operations. On 31st July 2007, the unit received credible intelligence inputs about a group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control in the strategically significant Uri sector. Understanding the gravity of the situation, the Commanding Officer of the unit, Colonel Vasanth Venugopal, decided to launch a swift and decisive search-and-destroy operation. Fully aware of the mission's importance and risks, Colonel Vasanth personally led the operation, which was planned as a pre-dawn raid to catch the infiltrators off guard. Lance Naik Bachhav Shashikant was part of the team assigned to execute this high-stakes operation. As the team advanced towards the suspected location, they soon made contact with the terrorists. On being challenged, the terrorists opened indiscriminate fire, triggering a fierce and prolonged gun battle in the rugged, forested terrain. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Indian troops engaged the militants with exemplary courage and determination.

During the intense exchange of fire, L/Nk Bachhav Shashikant, along with Colonel Vasanth and two other soldiers, sustained serious injuries. Despite the best efforts of his comrades to evacuate him, L/Nk Bachhav Shashikant later succumbed to his injuries, making the supreme sacrifice for the nation. He was only 28 years old at the time of his martyrdom. For his indomitable courage, selfless devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice in the face of grave danger, Lance Naik Bachhav Shashikant Ganpat was posthumously awarded the "Shaurya Chakra", one of India’s highest peacetime gallantry awards. 

L/Nk Bachhav Shashikant Ganpat is survived by his wife, Smt Rupali Bachhav.