Sepoy Krishan Kumar Bandar

Sepoy Krishan Kumar Bandar hailed from Tarkanwali village of Sirsa district of Haryana and was born on 04 May 1977. Son of Shri Chaudhary Jay Singh and Smt Rampyari Devi, Sep Krishan Kumar joined the Indian Army on 28 Aug 1997 after completing his school education at the age of 19 years. He was recruited into 17 Jat of the well-known Jat Regiment, a Regiment widely respected for its gallant soldiers and numerous battle exploits. After serving for a few years, Sep Krishan Kumar got married to Ms Santosh Devi on May 27, 1998.

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

By April 1999, Pakistani forces among other hill features had also occupied Point 4875, in Mashkoh valley. The Mashkoh valley provided a possible route of infiltration into the Kashmir valley as well as into the Doda-Kishtwar-Bhadrewah areas of Jammu. Point 4875 dominated the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh national highway between Zozi La pass and Drass and had strategic importance for the Indian Army. Those manning the Pakistani artillery observation post at Point 4875 could easily spot convoys moving on the national highway and bring down artillery fire on them. Thus the clearance of Point 4875 became a high priority mission and the responsibility was given to 79 Mountain Brigade under Brig Ramesh Kakar. 17 Jat battalion was inducted into the Mashkoh valley on 26 May 1999 under the command of Col Umesh Singh Bawa. The battalion was tasked to capture Point 4540 as a prelude to the capture of Point 4875. Sep Krishan Kumar Bandar as the leading scout of No 4 Platoon of the 'B' Company joined the team that was assigned the task of conducting this operation.

Sep Krishan Kumar Bandar, along with other 37 soldiers led by Sub Harphool Singh set off for their objective as planned. The enemy forces were well entrenched and were keeping a close watch on the movement of Indian soldiers. By 4 am on 30 May 1999, Sep Krishan Kumar Bandar and his comrades had reached very near to the enemy bunker and when they were about 100 meters from the bunker the enemy soldiers launched the attack. Sep Krishan Kumar Bandar and other soldiers quickly swung into action and retaliated forcefully. A fierce gun battle followed thereafter with heavy exchange of fire. On reaching the objective under heavy enemy automatic and artillery fire, Sep Krishan Kumar 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.

Eventually, the soldiers of the 17 Jat Battalion managed to destroy the enemy bunkers and capture the given objective. The capture of Point 4540 was very important which eventually paved the way for the capture of the strategically significant Point 4875. Sep Krishan Kumar Bandar displayed commendable courage and devotion to duty during the operation and laid down his life at the age of 22 years in the line of his duty. Besides Sep Krishan Kumar Bandar, the other martyred brave hearts included Sub Harphool Singh, Sep Vinod Kumar Naga, Sep Dharambeer Singh, Sep Ranveer Singh, and Sep Gajpal Singh. Sep Krishan Kumar Bandar was given the “Mention-in-Despatches” award for his outstanding gallantry, camaraderie and supreme sacrifice. 

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.