Naik Kashmir Singh Patwal hailed from Panun village in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand and was born on 02 Oct 1966. Son of Shri Ranjit Singh Patwal and Smt Bigri Devi, he was inclined to serve in the Army since his younger days. His father Shri Ranjit Singh Patwal took part in India's freedom struggle and remained in jail in Kashmir for a long time. It was this association of his father with Kashmir that he named his son Kashmir Singh. He joined the Army after completing his education on 25 Feb 1984 at the age of 18 years. He was recruited into 16 Bihar Battalion and later transferred to 18 Garhwal Rifles Battalion of the well-known Garhwal Rifles Regiment, an infantry regiment widely respected for its intrepid soldiers and numerous battle exploits. After serving for some time, he got married to Ms Subhashi Devi hailing from Uttarakhand.
Battle Of Point 4700 (Kargil War) : 28/29 June 1999
In June 1999, Naik Kashmir Singh's 18 Garh Rif battalion, under the command of Col SK Chakravarti was inducted into the Drass area. The battalion was functioning under the command of 56 Mtn Bde, with overall operational control being exercised by 8 Mtn Div under Maj Gen Mohinder Puri. Shortly after the signing of the Lahore declaration in 1999, the Pakistan Army surreptitiously occupied the winter vacated posts of the Indian Army. On 03 May 1999, these intrusions were detected and on 26 May 1999, the first air-to-ground strike was launched by the Indian Air Force (IAF), followed by Operation Vijay, by the Indian Army to evict the intruders from the Indian areas. The army quickly mobilized its forces to drive out the Pakistani infiltrators from Indian territory. After the capture of Tololing and Point 5140 by 20 June 1999, it was necessary to maintain pressure on the enemy. A number of reconnaissance missions confirmed that an area called 'Three Pimples Ridge' was needed to be captured in conjunction with Point 4700 in the first phase. Subsequently, it was required to capture Point 5100 to reach the LOC. The 'Three Pimples Ridge' which emanated from Pt 5100 on the Marpo La Ridgeline dominated the National Highway, Drass town, and Sando Valley. The capture of this area was necessary to pave the way for capturing Pt 5100 and subsequently Pt 5600, to isolate the intrusion east of Sando Nala in Drass. Three Pimples also known as the Black Rock complex consisted of Three Pimples, Lone Hill, Knoll, and Kajal and bifurcated into two spur lines. Point 4700 Ridge consisted of Pt 4700, Saddle, Tommy, Sangar, Rocky, and Junction Point. In order to achieve the desired objective in that area, a bold plan to launch multidirectional attacks spread over two phases was chalked out.
As per the operational plan, in phase-I, 2 Raj Rif was to capture Knoll and Lone Hill and contact Junction Point by the early morning of 29 June. 18 Garh Rif was tasked to capture Tommy, Saddle, and Pt 4700 by 29 June morning. In phase-II, 2 Raj Rif was to clear Three Pimples by midday and 16 Grenadiers Battalion was to exploit the situation and capture Junction Point by 30 June. In this phase, 18 Garh Rif was tasked to capture Rocky and Sangar and thereafter link up with 16 Grenadiers at Junction Point by 30 June. Pt 4700 had the observation of the entire Drass valley and dominated the national highway. The attack by 2 Raj Rif and 18 Garh Rif commenced at 2030 hrs on 28 June 1999. The Charlie and Delta companies of 18 Garh Rif left the firm base at 2030 hrs and 2050 hrs respectively. The move from the firm base to the objective was very challenging as the enemy continuously engaged with the advancing troops with artillery and automatic weapons. As part of a group tasked with attacking Point 4700, Naik Kashmir Singh was part of the attacking troops. The objective was heavily fortified, and the advancing troops were coming under intense automatic fire. Naik Kashmir Singh noticed that a sangar on the Southern slope was engaging the troops and impeding the advance of the troops. In the meantime, Naik Kashmir Singh received gunshots and sustained bullet injuries. Naik Kashmir Singh had got hit in the shoulder and was bleeding profusely.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Naik Kashmir Singh sensed that the sangar had to be neutralized at any cost to facilitate the advance and reduce its own casualties. He understood that there was no other way but to physically assault and clear sangar. Bleeding profusely and without caring for his personal safety, Naik Kashmir Singh physically charged the sanger and cleared it, killing one enemy soldier. However while doing so, he got a burst of universal machine gun on his chest and face and got severely injured. He soon succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Aided by the exceptional valour and determination of Naik Kashmir Singh and his comrades, 18 Garh Rif captured both Pt 4700 and Tommy by 0400 hrs on 29 June 1999. Having put the enemy off balance the plan for Phase-II operation was modified to capture Rocky and Sangar by the evening of 29 June 1999. With direct support from Bofors guns 18 Garh Rif troops went on to capture the objectives by 1930 hrs on 29 June 1999. Besides Naik Kashmir Singh, thirteen other soldiers of 18 Garhwal Rifles were martyred during this entire operation. The other brave hearts martyred on 29 June 1999, included Hav Padam Ram, Lance Hav Jagat Singh, Naik Mangat Singh Bhandari, Naik Rakesh Kumar, Nk Bharat Singh, Lance Naik Kishan Singh, Rfn Narpal Singh, Rfn AP Dhyani, Rfn Kuldeep Singh, Rfn Bikram Singh and Rfn Man Singh. Two other soldiers, Lance Naik Surman Singh and Rfn Dabal Singh were later martyred on 30 Jun 1999. Thus Naik Kashmir Singh played a pivotal role in the achievements of 18 Garh Rif in the battle of Pt 4700. Naik Kashmir Singh was a valiant and committed soldier who laid down his life at the age of 32 years in the line of his duty. Naik Kashmir Singh was awarded “Vir Chakra” posthumously for his commendable bravery, indomitable fighting spirit, and supreme sacrifice.
Naik Kashmir Singh Patwal is survived by his wife Smt Subhashi Devi and son Shri Suraj Singh Patwal.
Valsan Kunnath
2021 at 1:24 pmBig Salute to the Brave Son of Bharath Naik Kashmir Singh Vir Chakara
“Duty beyond Death” “Soldiers go beyond call of Duty”
You proved the patriotism in the most inspiring way to the motherland.
You will always be saluted for your Indomitable Courage and Supreme Sacrifice for the motherland.
Jai Hind..Vande matharam
Prem Singh Negi
2021 at 1:27 pmSalute. Rest in peace.
FROM : Prem Singh Negi
S/o Ex.JC 53818
Subedar Major PS NEGI
5TH ASSAM RIFLES
HQ: SHILLONG
PRESENT: JAIPUR
Aman ( Shanky) Dehradun
2021 at 1:30 pmI am glad that i am a part of sir shahed kashmir singh’s family where mrs patwal is amazingly a super woman who is taking good care of her kids , proud feeling when i got to know the story. Jai hind .
Ayyagari Srinivas
2022 at 10:16 pmCountry is Proud of Naik Kashmir Singh.Whole Nation is indebted to HIM.
JAI JAWAN..
Subedar Sunil Patwal
2023 at 11:21 amPatwal Saab Aap hamare desh ke sena ke hamare gaon Panaon Thalisain ke ek Veer yodha ho jo hamesha hamare dilon mein rahoge aap ki Shahadat kargil vijay mein bahut mahatvapurn thi apke deshbhakti ke jajbe ko aur Balidaan ko sat sat baar naman
Jai hind