Sep Prabhakar Bayaji Patre VrC

Sepoy Prabhakar Bayaji Patre was born on 1st Jun 1967 and hailed from Wagdari village in Solapur district of Maharashtra. Son of Shri Bayaji and Smt Laxmi Bai, Sep Prabhakar Bayaji Patre completed his studies from Vidyavardhak Shelke Patshala, Wagdari village in Solapur. After completing his school education, he joined the army at the age of 19 years on 21st July 1986. He was recruited into the 8 Mahar Battalion of the Mahar Regiment, an infantry regiment well known for its gallant soldiers and numerous battle honours.

Sri Lankan Operations: Op Pawan(Oct 1987)

By Oct 1987, Sepoy Prabhakar Bayaji Patre’s unit was operating deep inside Sri Lanka and was in the thick of combat operations. As the battle for Jaffna progressed, the IPKF advance came under intense and vicious opposition from the LTTE Tigers. Fighting in built-up and an as-yet unevacuated Jaffna, the Indian High Command insisted that the slow advance was, in addition to Tiger resistance, more a result of reluctance on the part of the IPKF to use heavy weaponry to clear LTTE defenses. On October 15/16 the IPKF stopped its advance to stabilize the front. Palay, the major operations headquarters for the 54th Infantry Division, was also secured from Tiger attacks. At this time the IAF undertook a massive airlift to reinforce the 91st with three brigades and heavy equipment, including T-72 tanks. Now reinforced, the IPKF resumed the battle for Jaffna on 16 Oct.  On 16 Oct 1987, Sep Prabhakar Bayaji Patre’s unit was tasked to link with Jaffna Fort.

However, during their advance from Road Junction to link up with the Jaffna Fort, the troops came under heavy militant fire from Manippe. The whole battalion was pinned down and in such conditions,  Sep Prabhakar Bayaji Patre came forward to carry ammunition as part of the  ‘Suicide Squad’ to a company. En route, the squad was ambushed by the militants,  but Sep Patre fought fearlessly and refused to give up. On reaching the company location, Sep Patre and his comrades had to make a fighting break, since the company was surrounded. Sep Patre took the lead and was the first to break the cordon. Without caring for his own safety, Sep Patre ran spraying bullets all over to break the cordon. However while doing so, he received multiple gunshots in his chest but kept advancing till he reached the company. His charge broke the cordon for the remaining soldiers. But Sep Patre eventually succumbed to his injuries and was martyred.

Sep Prabhakar Bayaji Patre was a gallant and committed soldier who laid down his life at the age of 20 years in the line of his duty. Sep Prabhakar Bayaji Patre was given the gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” for his conspicuous courage, devotion to duty, fighting spirit, and supreme sacrifice.