Sepoy Ankush SM

Sepoy Ankush Thakur hailed from Karohta village in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh and was born on 24 November 1998. He was the son of Shri Anil Thakur and Smt Usha Devi and grew up in a close-knit family with a younger brother. From an early age, he was deeply influenced by the values of discipline, patriotism, and service to the nation, which were firmly embedded in his household. Both his father and grandfather had served in the Indian Army, and their stories of duty and sacrifice left a lasting impression on him. Inspired by this proud legacy, Ankush was determined to carry forward the family tradition of serving the nation in uniform. After completing his schooling, he pursued his goal with dedication and successfully joined the Indian Army in 2018, at the young age of 19. He was recruited into the 3rd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment, one of the most renowned and highly decorated infantry regiments of the Indian Army, known for its valour, resilience, and distinguished battle history.

Following his induction, Sepoy Ankush Thakur underwent rigorous initial military training at Faizabad, where he was moulded into a professional soldier through demanding physical conditioning, weapon training, and fieldcraft. On completion of his training, he was posted to the Siachen Glacier for his first assignment—one of the world’s most inhospitable and challenging military deployments, requiring exceptional endurance, mental strength, and commitment. Serving in such extreme conditions early in his career reflected his courage and readiness to shoulder responsibility in the toughest environments. Subsequently, his unit moved to Ladakh, another strategically vital and operationally demanding region. There, Sepoy Ankush Thakur continued to perform his duties with dedication and professionalism, upholding the finest traditions of the Indian Army and the proud legacy of service that he had inherited from generations before him.

Operation Snow Leopard (Battle of Galwan): 15 June 2020

During 2020, Sepoy Ankush Thakur’s unit was deployed in the Galwan sector of Eastern Ladakh, a region that had emerged as the epicentre of rapidly escalating tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). From April onwards, Indian forces observed a sustained and coordinated buildup of Chinese troops, weapons, and supporting infrastructure across the LAC. By early May, repeated attempts were made by the adversary to obstruct India’s long-established and traditional patrolling routes in the Galwan Valley, leading to a series of tense face-offs. Similar transgressions were reported at Kongka La, Gogra, and along the North Bank of Pangong Lake. Each provocation was firmly countered by Indian troops, while parallel diplomatic and military engagements conveyed India’s unequivocal position that any unilateral attempt to alter the status quo would not be accepted. As tensions mounted, senior military commanders of India and China met on 6 June 2020 and agreed to a process of mutual disengagement based on reciprocal actions. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to respect the LAC and to avoid any activity that could disturb the prevailing situation on the ground. However, in a blatant violation of this understanding, Chinese forces instigated a violent confrontation on the night of 15 June 2020 in the Galwan Valley.

Against this volatile backdrop, Sepoy Ankush Thakur of 3 Punjab, a young infantry soldier barely 22 years of age, was entrusted with a critical operational responsibility. On the night of 15 June, he was deployed as a scout for his patrol, tasked with establishing an observation post and maintaining vigilant surveillance over enemy activity. While performing this duty with exceptional alertness, he detected a suspicious buildup of Chinese troops preparing for a confrontation and immediately alerted his comrades, providing a crucial early warning. What began as a tense standoff soon escalated into a brutal and premeditated attack. Armed with improvised lethal weapons and enjoying a significant numerical advantage, Chinese soldiers launched a fierce assault on Indian troops. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Indian soldiers stood their ground with unwavering courage and resolve. Recognising the gravity of the situation, Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Battalion, personally led a team forward to ensure compliance with the disengagement agreement. During the discussions, tempers flared and the confrontation rapidly degenerated into a violent clash, with Chinese troops attacking Indian soldiers using clubs and rods. As the fighting intensified, Sepoy Ankush Thakur and other soldiers from 3 Punjab rushed forward to reinforce their embattled comrades. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, which continued for several hours under treacherous terrain, freezing temperatures, and darkness, Sepoy Ankush Thakur displayed extraordinary courage, resilience, and selflessness. Despite sustaining grievous injuries, he refused to withdraw and continued to fight at close quarters. Even while severely wounded, he repeatedly exposed himself to danger to assist and evacuate injured comrades, saving several lives through his fearless actions.

Fighting valiantly till his last breath, Sepoy Ankush Thakur ultimately succumbed to his injuries, making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Along with him, Colonel Santosh Babu and 18 other brave soldiers laid down their lives in defence of the nation. The fallen heroes included Nb Sub Nanduram Soren, Nb Sub Satnam Singh, Nb Sub Mandeep Singh, Hav Bipul Roy, Hav Sunil Kumar, Hav K Palani, Naik Deepak Singh, Sep Ganesh Hansda, Sep Chandan Kumar, Sep Chandrakanta Pradhan, Sep Aman Kumar, Sep Kundan Kumar, Sep Rajesh Orang, Sep Ganesh Ram, Sep K.K. Ojha, Sep Jay Kishor Singh, Sep Gurtej Singh, and Sep Gurbinder Singh. In recognition of his conspicuous bravery, exceptional gallantry, and supreme sacrifice, Sepoy Ankush Thakur was posthumously awarded the Sena Medal on 26 January 2021, a fitting tribute to a young soldier who upheld the highest traditions of the Indian Army and laid down his life for the honour and integrity of the nation.

Sep Ankush Thakur is survived by his father Shri Anil Thakur and mother Smt Usha Devi.