Rifleman Abdul Salam Dar

In May 1999, after completing a challenging tenure at the icy heights of Siachen, the 12th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (12 JAK LI) was redeployed to the Batalik sector of Kargil. As the Kargil War unfolded, the battalion faced the daunting task of reclaiming strategic positions captured by the enemy. On June 7, 1999, Captain Amol Kalia was entrusted with a critical mission: to recapture the 17,000-foot-high Point 5203 in the Kargil-Yaldor region, Rfn Abdul Salam Dar was a part of the assigned team. This operation was of immense strategic importance, as Point 5203 offered a commanding view of the area, but it was fraught with extreme peril due to the rugged terrain and heavily fortified enemy defenses. Captain Amol Kalia, a seasoned expert in mountain warfare, led a handpicked team of 13 brave soldiers, including Rfn Abdul Salam Dar, into this high-stakes operation.

The team was air-dropped into the region by helicopter, marking the beginning of their arduous journey. With most access routes under constant enemy fire, the soldiers pressed forward with unwavering resolve, braving relentless gunfire and navigating treacherous obstacles. Drawing on their advanced mountaineering skills, they painstakingly scaled the steep and unforgiving slopes to reach the summit. In the early hours of June 9, 1999, under the cover of darkness, the team launched their assault on the enemy’s well-fortified positions. The operation was grueling, with visibility hindered by the night and the terrain working to the enemy’s advantage. Pakistani forces, entrenched in heavily fortified bunkers, offered fierce resistance, raining down fire on the advancing soldiers. Despite these formidable challenges, the team displayed exceptional courage and managed to establish a foothold on the northwestern slope of Point 5203.

During the intense counterattacks that followed, Rfn Abdul Salam Dar fought valiantly, inspiring his comrades with his unyielding spirit. His courage and sacrifice in the heat of battle exemplified the highest ideals of duty and patriotism. Rfn Abdul Salam Dar ultimately made the supreme sacrifice, attaining martyrdom while heroically defending the nation. The battle at Point 5203 claimed the lives of Rfn Abdul Salam Dar along with his officer Capt Amol Kalia and 9 of his brave comrades, marking one of the heaviest casualties suffered by the Indian Army during the Kargil War. Among the martyred heroes were Hav Rajinder Singh, Nk Pawan Kumar, L/Nk Laykit Ali, L/Nk GH Mohd Khan, Rfn Darshan Lal, Rfn Ravinder Singh, and Rfn Ishtiyaq Ahmed. Two more soldiers, Hav Kartar Singh and Rfn Tarsaim Lal, succumbed to their injuries on June 10, 1999. Despite the heavy losses, the recapture of Point 5203 was a turning point in the Batalik sector. The bravery and sacrifice of Rfn Abdul Salam Dar and his comrades secured a crucial strategic advantage for the Indian forces, ensuring the reclamation of Indian territory and upholding the nation’s honour.