Major Rajeev Kumar Laul SC

Major Rajeev Kumar Laul hailed from Delhi and was born on 22nd July 1967. After completing his education, he was selected to join the Army as a commissioned officer. He got commissioned into the 6 Guards Battalion of the Brigade of Guards, an infantry Regiment with a glorious history of courage and battle honours.

Srinagar Operation (J&K): 04 Jan 1996

During 1996, Maj Rajeev Kumar Laul was serving with the 13 Guards battalion, deployed in the Srinagar district of J & K, and was engaged in counterinsurgency operations regularly. After joining his unit, Maj Rajeev Kumar Laul participated in several counter-insurgency and counter-infiltration operations and proved his mettle on various occasions. On 04 January 1996, the battalion was celebrating the raising day, however at 1230 hours, on specific information about the presence of foreign militants in the unit's AOR(Area of Responsibility), Major Rajeev Kumar Laul, quickly organized his company to search. He immediately swung into action and reached the suspected area in Zainakut village of Srinagar district.  As the search operation was underway, the troops came under effective fire from a group of terrorists hiding behind a cover. Major Laul maneuvered closer and engaged them personally in a fierce gun battle. In the meantime, Major Laul and his comrades came under attack by another group of terrorists from the attic of a house. As a result, Major Laul was critically wounded.

Despite being seriously wounded, Major Laul with commendable courage engaged the fleeing terrorists and shot both the terrorists dead. However, he too collapsed and soon succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Maj Rajeev Kumar Laul, thus, displayed exceptional courage, grit, and dedication to duty without regard to his safety. Maj Rajeev Kumar Laul was a brave soldier and an officer par excellence, who led from the front and laid down his life at the age of 29 years, in the line of his duty following the highest traditions of the Indian Army. Maj Rajeev Kumar Laul was given the gallantry award, “Shaurya Chakra” for his extraordinary courage, leadership, and supreme sacrifice.

The citation for "Shaurya  Chakra" awarded to him reads:

On 04 January 1996, the raising day of the 13 Guards at 1230 hours, on specific information about the presence of foreign militants in village Zainakut, District Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Major Rajeev Kumar Laul, 13 Guards quickly organised his company for search. The officer while combing the village came under effective fire from a group of terrorists hiding behind a cover. The officer maneuvered closer and engaged them personally in a fierce gun battle. The officer and troops were sniped at by another group of terrorists from the attic of a house. The officer was critically wounded.

Though critically wounded, the officer with undaunted courage engaged the fleeing terrorists, with steady nerves, Inking control of his failing senses and shot both the terrorists dead, before collapsing himself. The exemplary standards of physical courage, tenacity and steely nerves shown by the officer in the face of extreme danger to him and his troops mark him out as a leader or exceptional quality in the true tradition of the Indian Army. Major Rajeev Kumar Laul, thus, displayed exceptional courage, grit and determination, dedication to duty without regard to his personal safety and spirit of supreme sacrifice.