Naik Ganesh Prasad Yadav VrC

Naik Ganesh Prasad Yadav hailed from Pandechak village in the Patna district of Bihar and was born on February 19, 1971. Son of Shri Ramdeo Prasad Yadav and Smt Bachhiya Devi, he joined the Army on 28 December 1987 before he could turn 17. He was recruited into 1 Bihar battalion of the Bihar Regiment, a regiment known for its fearless soldiers and numerous battle honours. The Bihar Regiment was raised in the year 1941 by regularising the 11 (Territorial) Battalion, 19 Hyderabad Regiment and raising new battalions. The Regiment participated in World War II, Indo-Pak wars of 1965 & 1971 admirably and proved its mettle in various operations. 

He joined the unit after competing his training and gradually developed into a tough and committed soldier. After serving for sometime, he got married to Ms Pushpa Rai, and the couple was blessed with a son Abhishek. By the year 1999, he had put in over 11 years of service and had been promoted to the rank of Naik.  His unit was moved from Assam to Jammu & Kashmir for the Kargil operation in 1999. 

Operation Vijay (Kargil War) : 29 May 1999

During May 1999, Nk Ganesh Prasad Yadav’s unit 1 Bihar under the command of Col O P Yadav, got deployed in the Batalik sub-sector of Ladakh. As 'Operation Vijay' was launched on 26 May, the unit troops were tasked to capture the enemy’s nearest observation post on Jubar Complex, the Jubar OP, at the height of 16,400 feet. However, the first attack failed due to the lack of time given for the acclimatisation. Within a week’s time from the first attack, 1 Bihar launched an attack on the Jubar Hill and despite stiff resistance, a small location near Jubar Hill was captured by the dawn. Threafter, on 28 May 1999, Nk Ganesh Prasad Yadav's sub-unit the Charlie Company was assigned the task of capturing Point 4268 on Jubar Ridge, a well-fortified enemy post at an altitude of 14,000 feet in the Batalik sub-sector of Kargil. The company was being commanded by a courageous and gallant officer, Major M Saravanan. 

On 28 May 1999, Naik Ganesh Prasad Yadav as a part of Charlie Company, attacked well-fortified enemy station at a height of 14,000 feet in the Batalik sub-sector of Kargil. After a four-hour approach march, the assault on the enemy began at 0400 hours on May 29, 1999. Under intense enemy artillery and small arms fire, Naik Ganesh Prasad Yadav was at the vanguard of the assault. He charged at the enemy sangar, disregarding his own safety, and killed two foreign mercenaries with his indomitable courage, fighting spirit, and determination.  A salvo of bullets struck Naik Ganesh Prasad Yadav in the hip, gravely injuring him.

Despite being injured, Naik Ganesh Prasad unmindful of the danger to his own life, continued to fire at the enemy. He later succumbed to his injury and was martyred. Naik Ganesh Prasad's body could be recovered, 37 days after his death, along with that of Major M Saravanan and Sep Pramod Kumar, following a bitter fight. Besides Nk Ganesh Prasad Yadav, the other brave hearts, who laid down thier lives in this operaiton included their 'Company Commander' Major M Saravanan, Lance Naik Bidyanand Singh, Sep Pramod Kumar, Sep Hardeo Prasad, and Sep SSP Gupta. Nk Ganesh Prasad Yadav was a valiant and dedicated soldier, who at the young age of 28 years, made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.  He was given the nation’s third highest gallantry award, ” Vir Chakra” posthumously for his exceptional courage, unyielding fighting spirit and supreme sacrifice. 

Naik Ganesh Prasad Yadav is survived by his father Shri Ramdeo Prasad, mother Smt Bachhiya Devi, wife Smt Pushpa Rai, and son Abhishek.

The Citation for the "Vir Chakra" awarded to him reads:-

Naik Ganesh Prasad Yadav belonged to Charlie Company which was assigned the task of capturing Point 4268, a well-fortified enemy post at an altitude of 14000 feet in Batalik Sub Sector of Kargil on 28^th May 1999 during operation vijay. After an approach march of four hours at 0400 hours on 29^th May 1999 the assault was launched on the enemy. Naik Ganesh Prasad Yadav was in forefront of the assault under a heavy volume of enemy artillery and a small fire. With his indomitable courage fighting spirit and determination, he charged at the enemy sangar with utter disregard for his personal safety and killed two foreign mercenaries.

Naik Ganesh Prasad Yadav was seriously wounded in the hip by a volley of bullets. Despite being injured the brave soldier, unmindfully of the danger to his own life continued to fire at the enemy till he succumbed to his injury. Naik Ganesh Prasad Yadav displayed the most conspicuous act of gallantry in the face of the enemy and made the supreme sacrifice.