Major Greesh Chandra Verma VrC

Major Greesh Chandra Verma hailed from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and was born on 29 August 1939. He was the son of Shri S. P. Verma and grew up in an environment that valued discipline, dedication, and service to the nation. After completing his initial education, he chose to pursue a career in the armed forces, driven by a strong sense of duty and patriotism. At the age of 21, he successfully completed his military training and graduated from the training academy on 18 December 1960, receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army. He was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion of the Dogra Regiment (3 Dogra), one of the distinguished infantry regiments of the Indian Army. The Dogra Regiment has a long and proud history, renowned for the courage, resilience, and battlefield achievements of its soldiers in numerous military campaigns. As a young officer, Second Lieutenant Verma began his military career with dedication and enthusiasm, quickly adapting to the rigorous demands of army life. In the years following his commissioning, the security situation on India’s borders grew increasingly tense. By 1965, relations between India and Pakistan had deteriorated significantly, and the possibility of armed conflict had become imminent.

During this period, the 3 Dogra Battalion was deployed in the sensitive region of Jammu and Kashmir, a strategically important area that had frequently witnessed military tensions between the two countries. The battalion’s deployment there placed it at the forefront of the developing situation, where officers and soldiers had to remain constantly alert and prepared for any hostile action. As a member of this battalion, Major Greesh Chandra Verma was part of a unit entrusted with the critical responsibility of defending the nation’s borders during a time of escalating conflict.

In 1965, Major Greesh Chandra Verma’s unit, the 3rd Battalion of the Dogra Regiment (3 Dogra), was deployed in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The battalion was operating under the command of 93 Infantry Brigade, which was part of the 25th Infantry Division of the Indian Army. This sector held significant strategic importance due to its proximity to key routes and mountain passes connecting various operational areas. The Indo–Pak War of 1965 effectively began on 1 September 1965 when Pakistani forces launched a major offensive in the Chhamb sector. Around the same time, the Indian Army had successfully captured the strategically vital Haji Pir Pass on 27 August 1965. Following this success, the Indian Army initiated Operation Faulad with the objective of sealing the Haji Pir Bulge from the southern side and securing the communication routes linking Poonch with Haji Pir. The enemy had established a series of strong defensive pickets on several hill features located between Poonch and Kahuta. These positions dominated the important Poonch–Haji Pir track, allowing the enemy to effectively observe and control movement along this route. The pickets were heavily fortified, consisting of cemented weapon emplacements and shell-proof bunkers, supported by coordinated Medium Machine Gun (MMG) and Light Machine Gun (LMG) fire. The defensive network made any direct assault extremely difficult.

To achieve its operational objective, the 93 Infantry Brigade was tasked with capturing these enemy pickets along the route to Kahuta and establishing a link between Poonch and Haji Pir. Among the numerous enemy positions, the Raja and Chand Tekri pickets were the most formidable. These positions were strongly defended, protected by barbed wire and minefield obstacles, and were considered virtually impregnable. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel R. B. Nair, the 3 Dogra Battalion, along with the 2nd Battalion of the Sikh Regiment (2 Sikh), was assigned the difficult task of capturing these heavily defended positions. The brigade planned a coordinated two-battalion attack. The 2 Sikh battalion was tasked with attacking from the left flank to capture the Raja picket, while 3 Dogra was assigned the objective of capturing Point 7702, a key feature dominating the area. On the evening of 5 September 1965, the battalion moved out towards its objective and successfully manoeuvred past the Raja picket under cover of darkness. The assault was to be led by B Company and C Company of 3 Dogra. B Company was commanded by Major Greesh Chandra Verma, while C Company was commanded by Captain Gurdev Singh Bawa. The two companies were to advance from the left flank and cross the start line at 04:00 hours on 6 September. At approximately 05:00 hours, the assault commenced as B and C Companies launched a determined attack on Point 7702. The troops immediately came under intense enemy fire from well-prepared defensive positions. To encourage and motivate his men in the face of heavy resistance, Major Verma moved to the very front line, personally directing the assault and leading his soldiers in the attack. A fierce exchange of fire followed, accompanied by the throwing of hand grenades as the soldiers closed in on the enemy trenches. The determined assault forced the enemy out of the first line of trenches and bunkers. The battle soon developed into close-quarter combat, with intense hand-to-hand fighting taking place as the Indian troops systematically cleared the enemy bunkers one by one. During the final stages of the assault, while leading his men in the fierce fighting on the last edges of the objective, Major Verma was struck in the head by an enemy bullet. Despite the heavy resistance, the soldiers of 3 Dogra pressed forward with determination. After a fierce bunker-to-bunker and hand-to-hand battle, the enemy was completely uprooted from their strongly built defensive positions, and Point 7702 was successfully captured by 05:45 hours on 6 September 1965.