Lt Col MV Gore

Lt Col MV Gore hailed from Indore in Madhya Pradesh. He was enrolled in the 4th Gwalior Infantry and took part in World War II. The 4th Gwalior Infantry later joined the 14 Kumaon battalion along with the Indore Infantry (later 15 Kumaon) in 1953. He subsequently got commissioned as an officer in the 14th Kumaon battalion of the Kumaon Regiment one of the highest decorated regiments of the Indian Army. He also had the distinction of taking part in UN operations in Congo in 1960 as part of the UN Peacekeeping Force. Later he was given the prestigious task of raising the 8th Kumaon battalion of which he became the first commanding officer.  By the year 1965, he had put in substantial years of service and had been appointed as 'Commanding Officer' of the 8th Kumaon battalion. 

Indo-Pak War : August 1965

During 1965, Lt Col MV Gore was commanding 8 Kumaon battalion, which was deployed in Trehgam town of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir. The unit got deployed in Trehgam on 01 August 1965 as a replacement to the 4 Kumaon battalion, which had finished its tenure in J&K. However the situation in J&K suddenly changed in the first week of August 1965. Pakistan launched Operation ‘Gibraltar’, sending thousands of infiltrators into Jammu & Kashmir in the first week of August 1965 to carry out sabotage, subversion, and indoctrination of the local population, encouraging them to overthrow Indian rule. According to the plan, several small groups of armed infiltrators were to cross the Cease Fire Line and enter the Valley between 1 and 5 August 1965. Simultaneously, Pakistani attacks would be launched in the Jammu Sector, tying up Indian forces in Chhamb and isolating Rajouri and Poonch. The Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Kargil roads would be cut, isolating Srinagar, which would be captured with the help of the local population.

The Gibraltar Force drawn from the Azad Kashmir battalions, Special Service Group, and Mujahids. They were divided into a number of columns or forces, named after well known Islamic heroes such as Tariq, Qasim, Khalid, Salahuddin, Nusrat, Ghaznavi, Murtaza, and Babar. The infiltrating columns succeeded in entering Indian territory at several points and became active from 6 August onwards.  The Tariq Force damaged several bridges on the Kargil - Srinagar highway, raided the Border Roads camp at Doras, and damaged the Ganderbal powerhouse and waterworks near Srinagar. The Qasim Force entered the Gurais Sector and raided HQ 268 Infantry Brigade and a gun position. Task Force 3 of 'Khalid Force' was given the task of raiding Trehgam camp, ammunition dump at Chowkibal, and bridge at Kralpura. On receiving the information on 08 August, 8 Kumaon battalion under Lt Col MV Gore swung into action. 

As a precautionary measure, Lt Col MV Gore launched protective patrols in Chowkibal area and west of Trehgam. At around 8 pm on 08 Aug, the infiltrators made an attempt to attack Trehgam base but the patrol led by 2nd Lt Joshi fired and drove them back. Lt Col MV Gore, immediately took over the situation and sent Maj YS Bisht and Capt Surendra Shah with patrols to support 2nd Lt Joshi. A patrol of 'A' company with Capt Surendra Shah moved out to link up with the patrol of 2nd Lt Joshi. Meanwhile, he ordered Maj Bisht to occupy a hill feature dominating the ammunition dump. He also sent reinforcements to Kralpura bridge to deal with any eventualities. The clashes with infiltrators, continued for several days. Meanwhile the situation in Nowgam area in Baramulla district had become precarious and Col MV Gore had to leave Trehgam to control the situation in Nowgam. By 13 August the enemy infiltrators had occupied heights surrounding Nowgam believing to be a major administrative base. The infiltrators launched an aggressive attack on the Dak bungalow in Nowgam on 13 Aug where Lt Col MV Gore and his men were staying. In the ensuing fierce gun battle Lt Col MV Gore and several other soldiers got severely injured. The Army mules tied in the stables were also brutally shot. However soon Lt Col MV Gore and seven other soldiers succumbed to their injuries and were martyred.  

Lt Col MV Gore was a valiant soldier and a gritty commanding officer, who led from the front and laid down his life in the line of his duty following the highest traditions of the Indian Army.