Lt Col Manish Shashikant Kadam KC

Lt Col Manish Shashikant Kadam, hailed from Sarambal village in the Konkan region of  Maharashtra. Son of Shri Shashikant Kadam and Smt Shubadda Kadam, Lt Col Manish had inclination to join the Armed Forces since his younger days and thus joined the Services Preparatory Institute at Aurangabad. He got selected to join the prestigious National Defence Academy, where his childhood dream of becoming an officer in the army took shape. He was commissioned into the famed Punjab Regiment, a Regiment known for its gallantry and numerous battle exploits.

After serving for few years with his Regiment Lt Col Manish was later deputed to serve with 22 RR deployed in J & K. The Rashtriya Rifles is a counter-insurgency force completely composed of Indian Army personnel, who undergo pre-induction training and operate in a grid structure to deal with insurgents.

Baramulla Operation : 16 Mar 2008

During 2008 Lt Col Manish’s unit was deployed in Baramulla district of J & K and was engaged in counter-insurgency operations at regular frequency. The area of responsibility of his unit was infested with the terrorists and the troops had to maintain a high state of alert at all times.  Based on the information received from the intelligence sources about the presence of some hard core terrorists, the security forces decided to launch a search and cordon operation on 16 Mar 2008 in a village in Baramulla district. The team headed by Lt Col Manish Kadam reached the suspected area as per the operation plan and cordoned off the area. Lt Col Manish Kadam deployed his troops tactically to have a tight cordon in order to plug the possible escape routes. 

Lt Col Manish Kadam in an effort to avoid collateral casualties ordered his troops to move civilians to safe area. However during the process of evacuation of civilians one terrorist taking advantage of the situation attempted to break the cordon. Lt Col Manish Kadam in a swift action fired at the terrorist and injured him avoiding any collateral casualty.  The terrorist slipped away and got cornered in another house approximately 200 meter away. Lt Col Manish Kadam displaying grit and determination lobbed a grenade to force the terrorist out of the house. The terrorist attempted to flee but Lt Col Manish Kadam displayed exceptional courage and in a daring move killed the terrorist. However during the fierce exchange of fire, Lt Col Manish Kadam took a burst of fire from the terrorist and was grievously injured.  He later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Lt Col Manish Kadam was a valiant soldier and a determined officer who laid down his life in the service of the nation. 

Lt Col Manish Kadam was given the nation’s second highest peace time gallantry award, “Kirti Chakra” for his extraordinary bravery, unfaltering leadership and selfless service to the nation. Lt Col Manish Kadam is survived by his father Shri Shashikant Kadam, mother Smt Shubadda Kadam, wife Smt Smita and son Siddhant.