Sepoy Pawan Kumar KC

Sepoy Pawan Kumar hailed from Rampur tehsil in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh and was born in 1997. He was the son of Shri Shishu Pal and Smt. Bhajun Dassi, and grew up in a close-knit hill community that valued discipline, hard work, and service to the nation. After completing his school education, motivated by a sense of duty and patriotism, he chose a life in uniform and enlisted in the Indian Army. Upon joining the Army, Sepoy Pawan Kumar was recruited into 16 Grenadiers, a battalion of the Grenadiers Regiment, one of the Indian Army’s oldest and most distinguished infantry regiments. The regiment is renowned for its gallant soldiers and a proud legacy of battle honours earned across numerous conflicts and operations. Within this demanding environment, Sepoy Pawan Kumar underwent rigorous training and steadily developed into a disciplined, sincere, and professionally competent soldier, earning the trust of his superiors and the camaraderie of his peers.

After serving with his parent unit for some time, Sepoy Pawan Kumar was deputed to 55 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, which was deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations. This deputation placed him in an operationally sensitive and challenging environment, where Rashtriya Rifles units are tasked with maintaining security, countering insurgent threats, and safeguarding civilian lives. In this role, Sepoy Pawan Kumar continued to display dedication, courage, and a strong sense of responsibility, upholding the finest traditions of the Indian Army while serving the nation in difficult and high-risk conditions.

Padgampora Operation (J&K): 28 Feb 2023

During February 2023, Sepoy Pawan Kumar’s unit, 55 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, was deployed in Pulwama district, an area that had been severely affected by active militancy. The battalion’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) demanded sustained counter-insurgency operations, with troops remaining on high alert and regularly conducting searches, patrols, and intelligence-based missions to neutralize terrorist threats and ensure the safety of civilians. Based on credible inputs received from intelligence agencies, information emerged about the presence of two terrorists who were suspected to have taken shelter in Padgampora village, located in the Awantipora area of Pulwama district. Acting swiftly on this input, a joint operation was planned and launched on 28 February 2023. The operation involved troops of 55 Rashtriya Rifles, along with elements of the Central Reserve Police Force and the Jammu and Kashmir Police, ensuring coordinated action and comprehensive area domination. As per the plan, the joint force reached the suspected location and established a cordon around the target area, followed by a systematic search operation. It soon became evident that the terrorists were hiding inside a mosque in Padgampora village, a situation that posed a serious operational and ethical challenge. Conscious of the religious sensitivity of the structure and the presence of civilians in the vicinity, the security forces exercised exceptional restraint. Every effort was made to avoid collateral damage, and civilians were carefully evacuated from nearby houses before any use of firepower was considered. During the course of the search, Sepoy Pawan Kumar was part of the lead element of his team. While advancing through the cordoned area, his party suddenly came into close contact with one of the terrorists.

Displaying extraordinary courage and presence of mind, Sepoy Pawan Kumar engaged the terrorist at close quarters. In a remarkable act of bravery, he overpowered the armed terrorist in hand-to-hand combat and succeeded in neutralizing him. However, during this fierce struggle, Sepoy Pawan Kumar sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was grievously injured. Meanwhile, the second terrorist managed to flee to an adjacent building and took cover inside a bathroom. The troops re-organized swiftly, tightened the cordon, and continued the operation with determination. After a careful and controlled engagement, the second terrorist was also eliminated. A large cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the slain terrorists, confirming their intent to carry out acts of violence in the region. Despite the best medical efforts, Sepoy Pawan Kumar eventually succumbed to his severe injuries and was martyred. At just 26 years of age, he laid down his life in the highest traditions of the Indian Army, displaying selfless courage, unwavering devotion to duty, and supreme sacrifice in the face of grave danger. In recognition of his exceptional gallantry, indomitable spirit, and sacrifice in the line of duty, Sepoy Pawan Kumar was posthumously awarded the "Kirti Chakra", the nation’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award. 

The citation for the ‘Kirti Chakra’ awarded to him reads :

On 27 February 2023, specific input was received regarding the presence of terrorists in a village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. SepoyPawan Kumar displayed exceptional tactical acumen in laying an impregnable cordon. Sepoy Pawan Kumar led the search from the front and volunteered to undertake room intervention along with his buddy. As he approached the first floor, hiding terrorists resorted to grenade lobbing and indiscriminate firing. Displaying operational composure, Sepoy Pawan Kumar retaliated with restraint to prevent collateral damage while preventing terrorists escape. Sensing grievous danger to his colleagues, in an act of supreme courage and indomitable spirit, he dashed ahead and engaged one terrorist in a hand-to-hand combat and snatched his weapon before eliminating him at very close quarters while injuring the second terrorist. In this intense firefight, SepoyPawan Kumar sustained fatal gunshot wounds and laid down his life in the highest traditions of the Indian Army. Terrorist eliminated was identified as Category ‘A’, terrorists.

For displaying undaunted courage and unparalleled devotion beyond the call of duty. Sepoy Pawan Kumar is awarded “KIRTI CHAKRA" (POSTHUMOUS).