Sepoy Krishan Kumar Bandar

Sepoy Krishan Kumar Bandar hailed from Tarkanwali village in Sirsa district of Haryana, a region known for its strong martial traditions and proud contribution to the Indian Armed Forces. He was born on 04 May 1977 to Shri Chaudhary Jay Singh and Smt. Rampyari Devi. Raised in a humble and disciplined family environment, he imbibed the values of hard work, courage, and dedication from an early age, which later shaped his path toward serving the nation. Driven by a deep sense of patriotism and commitment to defend his motherland, Sepoy Krishan Kumar chose to join the Indian Army after completing his school education. At the young age of 19 years, he was enrolled into the Army on 28 August 1997, marking the beginning of a life devoted to discipline, service, and sacrifice. He was recruited into the 17 Jat Battalion of the prestigious Jat Regiment, one of the Indian Army’s most distinguished infantry regiments, widely respected for its fearless soldiers, rich martial legacy, and numerous acts of gallantry in various military operations. Serving in such a renowned regiment strengthened his dedication to duty and inspired him to uphold the proud traditions of courage, honour, and selfless service.

During his time in the Army, Sepoy Krishan Kumar earned respect for his sincerity, discipline, and unwavering commitment as a soldier. After serving for a few years, he entered a new phase of life when he got married to Ms. Santosh Devi on 27 May 1998. She became his life partner and stood beside him during his journey of service to the nation. Sepoy Krishan Kumar Bandar’s life reflected courage, devotion, and patriotism. Though his years of service were brief, his commitment to the nation and his dedication as a proud soldier of the Indian Army remain an enduring source of respect and inspiration.

Operation Vijay (Kargil War): 29/30 May 1999

During 1999, Sepoy Krishan Kumar’s unit was deployed in the Mashkoh Valley sector during the Kargil War, where some of the fiercest battles were fought to recapture strategically important heights occupied by Pakistani forces. By April 1999, enemy troops had infiltrated and taken control of several key hill features, including Point 4875, a highly significant position overlooking the Mashkoh Valley. This valley served as a possible route of infiltration into the Kashmir Valley as well as the Doda–Kishtwar–Bhadrewah regions of Jammu. More importantly, Point 4875 dominated the crucial Srinagar–Kargil–Leh National Highway between Zoji La Pass and Drass, which was a lifeline for Indian military logistics and troop movement. Enemy personnel stationed at the artillery observation post on Point 4875 could easily monitor Indian convoys and direct artillery fire on them, posing a major threat to military operations. Recognizing the urgency of neutralizing this position, the Indian Army made the clearance of Point 4875 a high-priority mission and assigned the responsibility to the 79 Mountain Brigade under the command of Brigadier Ramesh Kakar. As part of this mission, the 17 Jat Battalion, commanded by Colonel Umesh Singh Bawa, was inducted into the Mashkoh Valley on 26 May 1999.  Before launching the assault on Point 4875, the battalion was tasked with capturing Point 4540, an important tactical objective that would serve as a stepping stone for the larger operation. Sepoy Krishan Kumar Bandar, serving as the leading scout of No. 4 Platoon of ‘B’ Company, was among the courageous soldiers chosen to participate in this dangerous mission. As the leading scout, his role was critical, as he had to guide the assault team and identify enemy positions under direct threat of hostile fire.

As planned, Sepoy Krishan Kumar Bandar, along with 37 fellow soldiers led by Subedar Harphool Singh, advanced towards their objective under extremely difficult and hostile conditions. The enemy was deeply entrenched in fortified bunkers and maintained constant surveillance over the movement of Indian troops. Despite the steep terrain, freezing weather, and looming danger, the soldiers continued their advance with determination and courage. By around 4:00 AM on 30 May 1999, Sepoy Krishan Kumar Bandar and his comrades had reached close proximity to the enemy bunkers, narrowing the distance to nearly 100 meters. At that crucial moment, enemy forces launched a sudden and intense attack. Sepoy Krishan Kumar and his fellow soldiers immediately swung into action and retaliated forcefully, leading to a fierce gun battle and heavy exchange of fire. On reaching the objective under heavy enemy automatic and artillery fire, Sepoy Krishan Kumar displayed exceptional courage and battlefield awareness. Despite the intense shelling and direct enemy fire, he successfully identified enemy bunker locations and indicated them to his platoon commander. Acting on this crucial information, the enemy bunkers were effectively targeted and destroyed using 84 mm rocket launchers, significantly weakening enemy resistance. During the intense battle, Sepoy Krishan Kumar was seriously injured. However, showing extraordinary courage and complete disregard for his personal safety, he continued to provide covering fire to support the advance of his comrades. Refusing to withdraw despite his injuries, he resumed the assault and kept engaging the enemy. While bravely carrying out his duty, he was struck by another burst of medium machine-gun fire and eventually succumbed to his injuries on the battlefield.

Inspired by the courage and sacrifice of their comrades, the soldiers of the 17 Jat Battalion pressed on with relentless determination. They successfully destroyed the remaining enemy bunkers and captured Point 4540. This hard-fought victory proved crucial, as it paved the way for the eventual capture of the strategically significant Point 4875, contributing significantly to India’s success in the Kargil War. Sepoy Krishan Kumar Bandar displayed outstanding gallantry, devotion to duty, camaraderie, and supreme sacrifice in the face of grave danger. At the young age of 22 years, he laid down his life in the highest traditions of the Indian Army while defending the sovereignty of the nation. Alongside him, other brave soldiers who attained martyrdom during the operation included Subedar Harphool Singh, Sepoy Vinod Kumar Naga, Sepoy Dharambeer Singh, Sepoy Ranveer Singh, and Sepoy Gajpal Singh. In recognition of his exceptional bravery, unwavering dedication, and supreme sacrifice, Sepoy Krishan Kumar Bandar was posthumously awarded the “Mention-in-Despatches” honour. His courage, patriotism, and selfless service continue to remain an enduring source of inspiration and pride for the Indian Army and the nation.

Sep Krishan Kumar Bandar is survived by his wife Smt Santosh Devi.

The citation for "Mention-in-Despatches" awarded to him reads:

No 3190727F Sep Krishan Kumar of B Coy, 17 Jat had been serving in the battalion for the last 1 year and 9 months. He was the leading scout of the number 4 platoon and was tasked to exploit up to ROCKY KNOB on the capture of point 4540. On reaching the objective under heavy enemy automatic and artillery fire, he indicated enemy bunkers to the platoon commander which were destroyed by 84mm rocket launchers. Sep Krishan Kumar though injured, kept proving covering fire and resumed the advance when finally he got hit by another medium machine gun burst and succumbed to his injuries.