Lance Naik Ved Mitra Chaudhary

Lance Naik Ved Mitra joined the Indian Army in 2001. He was part of the 58 Engineers Regiment. He had worked for the United Nations Peace Mission in Sudan for almost six months. In January 2015, he was stationed in Meerut at HQ 416 Engineers Brigade.

On August 13th, 2015, a shocking incident took place in Meerut at Rohta road. Lance Naik Chaudhary who lived in Gopal Nagar had gone to a milk booth in Hardev Nagar to buy some milk. On his way, he noticed six young men teasing and harassing the booth owner Krishnan Pal’s 21-year-old daughter. Lance Naik Chaudhary could not tolerate it and immediately came to help. He parked his bike and headed towards the commotion. Calmly, he asked them to stop and it was then that one of the miscreants slapped the soldier. Following this, Lance Naik Chaudhary along with the booth owner’s sons got into a fistfight. The men finally backed off and left but only to return with 30 more friends who started beating him with iron rods, bricks, and hockey sticks. It was reported that for nearly 25 minutes he fought with his bare hands. But eventually, he was overpowered. Once his attackers fled the scene  Lance Naik Chaudhary was taken to an army hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.

The bravery and fearlessness exhibited by Lance Naik Chaudhary were exemplary. Despite the odds, he put the safety of the woman above his own and was extremely steadfast in his moral ideals.  He sacrificed his life to protect the honour of a young girl. He gave his life, trying to stand by the ideals of the Indian Army to protect the country and its people. For his courage and devotion to his country and countrymen, he will always be remembered. He is an inspiration to every citizen of India.

He is survived by his wife and two children aged nine & seven.

• “There used to be many thefts in the area and many criminals used to roam around but ever since Chaudhary came to stay here in June, not even a single robbery was reported. The younger ones would go to him to listen to stories and the elderly took pride in knowing him,” said his landlord Atish Tomar who is an ex-serviceman
• “I am shattered. He was not only family but a dear friend too, I don’t know what fate awaits my sister and her children who lost their father at such a tender age,” said Vikas Kumar, brother-in-law of the army man. He added that the family grieves, but they will one day feel proud about what Chaudhary had done.
• Indian Army paid tribute to the Martyr on Facebook, the Indian army paid condolences, saying, “Gen Dalbir Singh, COAS and All Ranks of Indian Army express heartfelt condolences to the grief-stricken family of Sapper Ved Mitra Choudhary, who laid down his life protecting the honour of a girl in Meerut. We pray to the almighty to give the family courage and strength to bear the irreparable loss.”
• SSP Dinesh Chand Dubey said. “We salute the soldier who sacrificed his life for a cause.” Sub-Area Colonel Rajiv Kumar said, Chaudhury fulfilled the duty of an Indian citizen and protected a girl’s honour. He will be remembered as a martyr.
• “He sacrificed his life for my daughter’s honour. We will remain indebted to him forever,” said Krishan Pal, the dairy owner. Lance Naik Chaudhary’s father told his brother, “Your brother died a martyr. How many people in this village or the country would have shown the courage that he showed?”
• “He wanted to bring up his daughter as a brave girl. Now, our son wants to become an army officer and fulfil his father’s dream,” said Babita, his wife.
• I cannot express my indebtedness to the army man,” said the woman who Lance Naik Chaudhary bravely tried to defend.