Captain Devinder Singh Ahlawat | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 July 1945 V Gochi, Rohtak, Haryana |
| Died | 5 December 1971 |
| Allegiance | India |
| Branch | Indian Army |
| Unit | 10 Dogra |
| Battles / wars | Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 |
| Awards | Maha Vir Chakra |
Devinder Singh Ahlawat, MVC,(4 July 1945 - 5 December 1971) was an officer of the Indian army, who belonged to the Dogra Regiment. For his gallantry during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, [1] [2] India's 2nd highest award for gallantry. [3]
Devinder Singh was born on 4 July 1945 in Gochhi village in Jhajjar district of the Indian state of Haryana. [4] [5] He was a third generation soldier in a military family. His grandfather fought in World War I and his father in World War II and during the civil war in 1947–48 and 1962. [6]
During Indo-Pak war of 1971, Captain Ahlawat with his company of 10 Dogra was assigned the capture of Dera Baba Nanak bridgehead. During the operation his company came under heavy fire. With disregard for his life, Ahlawat charged the pillbox, grabbed a machine gun barrel with his right hand and threw a grenade into the pillbox and silenced the gun, thus making it possible to maintain the attack and overrun the objective. Ahlawat lost his life in the action. [7] His body was found with six bullet wounds — his hand still clutching the machine gun barrel. [8] [9]