Major Ajay Kumar SM

During the late 1990s, as militancy intensified in Jammu & Kashmir, Major Ajay Kumar’s unit—13 Mechanised Infantry—was deployed in the Anantnag district of South Kashmir as part of Operation Rakshak. The unit was actively engaged in counter-insurgency operations and was also responsible for manning forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Anantnag sector. This sector was particularly volatile, frequently witnessing ceasefire violations and repeated infiltration attempts by militants from across the border. Such infiltration bids were often supported by heavy artillery shelling and coordinated actions by the Border Action Teams (BAT) of Pakistani forces. In this challenging operational environment, the unit maintained relentless pressure on militant networks through continuous surveillance, aggressive patrolling, and intelligence-based operations. Major Ajay Kumar played a pivotal role in these operations. On 5 August 1998, leading from the front, he successfully led a team that eliminated three hardcore militants within the unit’s Area of Responsibility (AOR), showcasing his tactical acumen and fearless leadership. As part of sustained counter-insurgency efforts, the unit regularly conducted area domination patrols to deter militant movement and maintain control over sensitive regions. On 19 May 1999, Major Ajay Kumar was leading one such patrol along a designated route. During the operation, his team was suddenly struck by a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast, laid by militants to target security forces.