On this auspicious occasion of Rakhi, let us also honor and remember those valiant souls who laid down their lives while safeguarding our borders

1. On this auspicious occasion of Rakhi, let us also honor and remember those valiant souls who
laid down their lives while safeguarding our borders

2. Major Somnath Sharma
His last words: "The enemies are only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not
withdraw an inch but will fight to our last man and our last round."

3. Major Dhan Singh Thapa Magar
Major Thapa Magar and his men held the post and repelled three attacks before eventually being overrun. The survivors, including Thapa Magar, were
taken as prisoners of war. For his gallant actions and his efforts to motivate his men under fire he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra.

4. Captain Vikram Batra
Batra exposed himself to enemy fire to drag the injured soldier to safety, and in the process was shot in the chest by an enemy sniper from very close
range, and a split-second later, by a splinter from an RPG which hit him in the head.Batra collapsed next to the injured soldier, succumbing to the fatal
wounds.

5. Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon
He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, in recognition of his lone defence of Srinagar Air Base against a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) air raid
during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Flying Officer Sekhon's remains as well as the exact location of the crash site of his aircraft are still unknown.

6. Major Shaitan Singh
During the battle, Singh continuously moved from post to post reorganizing the defences and boosting the morale of his men. As he moved between the
posts without any cover, he was seriously wounded, and later succumbed to his injuries. For his actions on 18 November 1962, Singh was awarded the
Param Vir Chakra.

7. Subedar Naik Karam Singh
He was awarded the PVC for his role in saving a forward post at Richhmar Gali, south of Tithwal.

8. Captain Manj Kumar Pandey
An officer of the first battalion, 11 Gorkha Rifles (1/11 GR), he sacrificed his life for the nation in battle on bunker hill edge of the
Khalubar Hills in village Garkon Aryan Valley of Kargil

9. Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria
During the attack, Salaria was shot twice in the neck and eventually succumbed to his injuries. For his duty and courage, and
disregard for his own safety during the battle, Salaria was awarded the PVC.

10. Naik Jadunath Singh
Armed with a sten gun he single-handedly charged the third assault with such determination as to cause the attackers to
withdraw. In doing so, he was killed.

11. Havildar Major Piru Singh
In time, Singh successfully occupied a Pakistani medium machine-gun post. But, by that time, the entire company lay dead or wounded. Singh was left
alone to achieve the objective. He moved out and lobbed grenades at the next enemy post. Before moving to another trench, he received a mortal bullet
wound to the head.