Subedar Ajay Vardhan KC

Subedar Ajay Vardhan Tomar was born in Jwad village in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. Sub Ajay Vardhan belonged to 14 Garhwal Rifles and was serving in J & K area in 2014.  During his dedicated service of over three decades, Sub Ajay Vardhan had served in various units deployed in places of different terrain and operational environment.

During 2014, Sub Ajay Vardhan’s unit, 14 Garhwal Rifles, was deployed in Kupwara sector of J & K. Sub Ajay Vardhan was functioning as a Platoon Commander of the Alpha Company, which was deployed at 13000 feet near Line of Control at Kupwara. On 01 Dec 2014, the unit had received credible information from the intelligence sources about the presence of infiltrators in its area of operation. After assessing the situation a decision was taken to launch a search and destroy mission to deal with the infiltrators.

Sub Ajay Vardhan was leading an operational team, and at around 2100 Hrs, he spotted the infiltrating terrorists at Point 4053. On being challenged the terrorists opened fire and a fierce exchange of fire ensued. Despite the heavy enemy fire, harsh terrain and subzero temperatures, he engaged the terrorists and passed crucial information regarding location and strength of terrorists to Battalion Headquarters. He deployed his troops tactically and shot dead one terrorist from close quarters.

However, during the gun-battle few of his comrades got wounded and required medical attention. While administering first aid to a wounded soldier, Sub Ajay Vardhan observed another wounded member of his team being encircled by two terrorists. With utter disregard for personal safety, he charged at the terrorists, killing the second at point-blank range and engaged another, thereby saving the wounded soldier. Enraged by the audacious attack by Sub Ajay Vardhan, the remaining terrorists charged at him and injured him badly. Despite sustaining multiple gunshots to his head and body, Sub Ajay Vardhan pulled the wounded soldier to safety and continued leading his men until he succumbed to his injuries.

Sub Ajay Vardhan was given ‘Kirti Chakra” the nation’s second highest peacetime gallantry award for his exemplary courage, unyielding spirit, camaraderie and supreme sacrifice. Sub Ajay Vardhan Tomar is survived by his mother Hira Devi, wife Laxmi Devi, daughter  Bhumika, and son Akshit.

• Governor of Uttarakhand, Aziz Qureshi and Chief Minister Harish Rawat along with public representatives paid floral tributes to martyr Subedar Ajay Vardhan Tomar at Majjri Mafi in Dehradun .
• Amid chanting of slogans like “Tomar Amar Rahe”, and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, Sub Tomar’s body was consigned to flames at the Majjri Mafi cremation ground. Subedar Tomar’s wife Lakshmi Devi, daughter Bhumika and son Akshat were present during the cremation ceremony.
• Though Sub Ajay Vardhan’s son Akshat was feeling proud that his father had made the supreme sacrifice for the nation, he could not control his emotions. He has decided to follow in the footsteps of his his father and join the Army after schooling. Bhumika, the teenage daughter of the martyr, consoled her mother, who fainted thrice when Subedar Tomar’s body arrived. She is also determined to join the Indian Army.
• MLAs Harbans Kapoor, Ganesh Joshi, and Umesh Sharma, Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Ajay Bhatt, and Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kishore Upadhyay attended the cremation and paid rich tributes to Sub Ajay Vardhan.