Service No : 4144088
Date of Birth : July 1, 1938
Place of birth : Mahendragarh Dist
Service : Army
Last Rank : Naik
Unit : 4 Kumaon
Arm/Regt : The Kumaon Regiment
Operation : Indo-Pak War-1965
Awards : Vir Chakra
Martyrdom : August 7, 1965
Naik Ram Kumar VrC
Naik Ram Kumar hailed from Kanina-Khas village of Mahendargarh district in Haryana and was born on 1st July 1938. Son of Shri Gugan Ram and Smt Dana Devi, he joined the army after completing his school education on 06 September 1957 at the age of 19. He was recruited into 4 Kumaon battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment traced its origins to the 18th century and had fought in every major campaign of the British Indian Army and the Indian Army, including the two world wars. Post Independence, staying true to the Regimental motto of Parakramo Vijayate (Valour Triumphs) the Regiment had proved its mettle in Indo-Pak War of 1947-48 where Major Somnath Sharma of 4 Kumaon was awarded the first Param Vir Chakra. In Sino-India War of 1962, 13 Kumaon displayed outstanding courage and determination while fighting the enemy during the Battle of Rezang La, and Major Shaitan Singh received the Param Vir Chakra for that battle.
Inspired by the legacy of the Regiment, Sep Ram Kumar soon developed into a committed and tough soldier ready to prove his soldierly skills. By the year 1965, he had served for nearly eight years and had been promoted to the rank of Naik. In mid 1965, Naik Ram Kumar got involved into thick of operations as his unit got deployed near J&K border, when the war with Pakistan became imminent.
Indo-Pak War (Tithwal Sector :J&K) :07 August 1965
During 1965 Indo Pak War, Naik Ram Kumar's unit 4 Kumaon was deployed near the ceasefire line in Kupwara's Tithwal area in J&K. In Aug 1965, the Pakistani forces intruded in Kashmir with the launch of Operation Gibraltar. The infiltration of the Gibraltar Force at various points across the 750-km long Cease-fire Line and the international border began on 05 August 1965. It covered areas of Jammu, Punch and Uri in the west, Tithwal in the north-west, Gurez in the north and Kargil in the north-east. Initially, about 1,500 infiltrators crossed over in small batches, and concentrated at selected points inside Kashmir to organise themselves into larger groups. One of the major incidents related to the operations of the Gibraltar Force happened at Kralpur Bridge on 07 August 1965.
On 06 August, strong patrols were dispatched to intercept the intruders operating in Tithwal-Kupwara area and targeting the bridges on Road Kupwara-Tithwal, as a preliminary to infiltrating into the Valley. Meanwhile, 68 Infantry Brigade HQ with 6 Dogra was moved from Leh to Tangmarg, and made responsible for the operations in this sector. On 07 August, a group of 200 infiltrators was seen in area Magam, on the way to Srinagar. One Company of 6 Dogra and one Platoon of Punjab Armed Police intercepted the group, killing one and arresting 5 intruders. Later at night, the raiders attacked the bridges at Kralapur and Sonarwain, and damaged them. A Platoon of ‘A' Company of 4 Kumaon was tasked to protect the bridge at Kralpur on road Kupwara-Chokibal-Tithwal, since it was believed that Kralpur Bridge was sure to be attacked and destroyed by the armed guerillas. To secure the tactically important bridge, a Platoon from 'A" Company of 4 Kumaon was deployed in the bridge area with a Section around the bridge to guard it against any threat. Naik Ram Kumar was the Commander of the Section deployed to protect the Kralpur Bridge (Tithwal Sector) a vital link of communication in the area.
On 7 August 1965, the enemy launched an attack to destroy the bridge. Naik Ram Kumar with his handful of men stood firm to repel the attack and protect the vital asset. During the fierce fight, most soldiers of the Section were injured including Naik Ram Kumar. Subsequently reinforcements including an enemy demolition squad reached the bridge with an aim to destroy it. Naik Ram Kumar, not withstanding his grievous injuries charged at the enemy with brute courage and killed enemy soldiers in close quarter combat. Sensing the fierceness and raw courage of the Indian Army soldiers the remaining enemy soldiers fled in utter fear, saving the bridge from being destroyed. Naik Ram Kumar, disregarding his own safety, bravely dragged the injured commander away from the bridge. In the process, he was injured by grenade splinters. Despite his wounds, when an enemy demolition squad reached the bridge, Naik Ram Kumar sprang into action. He rushed towards the enemy soldiers and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with one of them. Demonstrating immense courage and quick thinking, he managed to throw a grenade, wounding the enemy soldier carrying the demolition charge. This action caused the other enemy soldiers to flee, effectively neutralizing the immediate threat to the bridge. Tragically, Naik Ram Kumar was severly injured by the explosion of his own grenade. He soon succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom.
Naik Ram Kumar displayed indomitable courage, devotion to duty of highest order and dogged resoluteness in saving the Kralpur Bridge. Naik Ram Kumar was a brave and dedicated soldier who laid down his at the age of 27 years in the line of his duty. Naik Ram Kumar was given the gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” for his dauntless courage, determination, and supreme sacrifice.
Satyam Bhardwaj
2024 at 8:44 pmThe information is from book-“1965-A Western Sunrise”.
the author’s account about actions of Naik Ram kumar after Kralpora Bridge came under fire was:At 1100 hrs ,machine gun fire swept across the Kralpora bridge ,some of the men huddled in the tent were killed in the initial burst but some men including Naik Ram Kumar managed to come out and engage the enemy with thier LMG’s.
Unable to close the gap , raiders fired Blindicide rockets at the piers of the bailey bridge ,but failed to bring it down .In the ensuing confusion ,Ram Kumar spotted the badly wounded Jemadar Umrao Singh lying in the open and tried to drag him into cover of some nearby rocks and was wounded in the process.
Taking advantage of this oppurtunity ,raiders rushed onto the bridge to set up demolition charges.
Due to premature detonation the initial charges failed,it was then Ram kumar rushed on the bridge and threw a grenade and killed most of the demolition party .One of the ambushers was wounded heavily and Ram kumar grabbed him and started dragging him back across the bridge.The gallant soldier died on the bridge ,holding his captive in an unbreakable vice like grip.When Charlie company under Major (later Lieutenant Colonel)Gurbax Singh arrived at the Kralpora bridge , they found eleven of their comrades dead along with other grievously wounded .Ram Kumar ,his arms now frozen due to rigor mortis ,was still holding the wounded pakistani soldier who turned out to be from the !9 Azad Kashmir.The explosive fitted on the bridge by the raiders had needed just one spark to set them off ,but Naik Ram Kumar had thwarted that even in death.