Sepoy Mula Ram Bidiyasar was born in Ratau village in Nagaur district, Rajasthan; his family later moved and settled in Kathoti village in Jayal tehsil of the same district. He was born into a humble and disciplined family to Shri Raghunath Ram and Smt. Rameshwari Devi, where values of hard work, integrity, and service were deeply ingrained from an early age. After completing his school education, he chose the path of national service and enlisted in the Indian Army with a strong sense of duty and patriotism. He was recruited into the 4th Battalion of the Jat Regiment, one of the Indian Army’s most distinguished infantry regiments, renowned for its brave soldiers, rich traditions, and numerous battle honours. Joining such a prestigious battalion marked the beginning of his dedicated military journey, where he committed himself to upholding the regiment’s proud legacy of courage and sacrifice.
Kargil War (Op Vijay): May-June 1999
During the Kargil War (Operation Vijay) in May–June 1999, Sepoy Mula Ram was serving with the 4th Battalion of the Jat Regiment, which was deployed in the remote Kaksar sector near Kargil. This sector overlooked the strategically vital National Highway 1D — the only arterial road connecting Srinagar to Leh — making it crucial for operational movement and logistical support. The area was marked by rugged mountains, extreme altitude, and severe weather conditions, placing heavy physical and operational demands on deployed troops. In early May 1999, intelligence inputs began indicating suspicious enemy activity in the Batalik–Yaldor sector, raising serious concerns about infiltration across the Line of Control. In response, Indian Army units intensified surveillance and launched aggressive area-domination patrols to verify ground realities and detect any intrusion. With the gradual melting of winter snow, troops were also tasked with checking and, wherever possible, reoccupying forward summer posts that had been vacated during peak winter. As part of these operations, multiple patrols were sent into the Kaksar–Langpa area during the first half of May to reassess forward positions and confirm the presence or absence of infiltrators. On 15 May 1999, one such patrol was assigned to move towards Bajrang Post, an important defensive feature that normally remained unoccupied during the winter months.
The patrol was led by Captain Saurabh Kalia and included Sepoy Mula Ram along with Sepoys Arjun Ram Baswana, Banwari Lal Bagaria, Bhikha Ram, and Naresh Singh. The team advanced with clarity of mission and professional determination, unaware that the area had already been occupied by enemy elements. Soon after reaching the vicinity of Bajrang Post, the patrol came under intense and sustained crossfire from Pakistani forces positioned across the Line of Control. In the sudden and fierce engagement that followed, Sepoy Mula Ram fought resolutely alongside his comrades. He remained actively involved in the firefight, displaying courage, steadiness, and unwavering commitment to his duty and team. The exchange of fire continued for a prolonged period, but as the engagement stretched on, the patrol’s ammunition began to run critically low. Assessing the deteriorating situation, Captain Kalia established contact with the base and urgently requested reinforcements. However, before support could arrive, the patrol was surrounded by a larger enemy force and eventually overpowered and captured alive. Sepoy Mula Ram stood firm with his fellow soldiers until all means of resistance were exhausted and was taken prisoner along with the rest of the patrol. When the patrol did not return, Indian Army units immediately launched extensive search operations in the sector, but initial efforts produced no contact.
Shortly thereafter, Radio Skardu announced that Captain Kalia and his patrol had been captured, confirming a hostile intrusion in the area. This development proved to be a crucial turning point, revealing that heavily armed enemy forces had occupied dominating heights well inside Indian territory with prepared positions and supply arrangements — events that marked the formal escalation of the Kargil conflict. Sepoy Mula Ram remained in captivity with his patrol members from 15 May to 7 June 1999, enduring nearly three weeks of extreme hardship and brutality. When their mortal remains were returned on 9 June 1999, they bore clear signs of prolonged torture. Post-mortem examinations confirmed multiple grievous injuries, establishing that the soldiers had been subjected to inhuman treatment in violation of accepted international norms governing prisoners of war. Sepoy Mula Ram made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, upholding the honour of the uniform under the most severe circumstances. His courage, endurance, and steadfast devotion to duty remain an enduring and solemn chapter of the Kargil War.
Sep Mula Ram Bidiyasar is survived by his father, Shri Raghunath Ram, and mother Smt Rameshwari Devi.
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