Sanjay Chauhan (soldier)

Last updated
Captain

Sanjay Chauhan

SC
Capt Sanjay Chauhan.jpg
DiedLachimpora, Jammu and Kashmir
Allegiance Flag of India.svg Republic of India
Service/branch Flag of Indian Army.svg Indian Army
Rank Captain of the Indian Army.svg Captain
Unit 16 Rajputana Rifles
Battles/wars Kashmir conflict
Awards Shaurya Chakra ribbon.svg Shaurya Chakra

Captain Sanjay Chauhan, SC, was an Indian Army officer of the 16 Rajputana Rifles who was killed in action in 1994, leading an operation against foreign terrorists in North Kashmir. He was posthumously decorated with the Shaurya Chakra, India's third-highest decoration for conspicuous gallantry in peacetime. [1] He was born in a Rajput family. Capt Chauhan was killed along with his three teammates on 28 October 1994, in the Lacchimpora village of Jammu and Kashmir. At the time, the Kashmir insurgency was at its peak, as foreign terrorists entered India from the other side of the Line of Control with the objective of destabilizing the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Contents

Operation Sahas

During a military counter-insurgency operation in Jammu and Kashmir, India, Captain Chauhan attempted to infiltrate an enemy militant group. On the basis of actionable intelligence gathered by his network of informers in Kashmir, he planned an assault on foreign terrorists hiding in Lachimpora, Jammu and Kashmir. If successful, the operation could lead to the elimination of foreign militant hierarchy in a sensitive area of Kashmir.Disguised as foreign terrorists, Capt Chauhan and his team of three soldiers, armed with AK-47s, entered the village of Lachimpora. A platoon, led by a JCO, was to hide in a ridge nearby, observing the situation from their vantage point, and respond to any call for help. The militants, despite the soldiers' disguise, grew suspicious. Soon, the team was found out. They escaped the gathering of terrorists and took their place in a hut. The JCO, however, failed to respond to their calls for support even as 20-30 terrorists descended from the hills. The party of soldiers was captured alive and subsequently tortured to death. The horribly mutilated bodies of the soldiers, found in the middle of Handwara, revealed that the militants had tortured them by pulling out their fingernails, gouging their eyes out, chopping their hands off, and by maiming their private parts.

Capt. Sanjay Chauhan was awarded the Shaurya Chakra, India's third-highest military honour, for valour in the face of the enemy.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Para (Special Forces)</span> Indian Army special operations force

Para (Special Forces), also known as Para Commandos or Para (SF) Commandos, is a group of special forces battalions of the Parachute Regiment in the Indian Army. These units specialize in various roles including counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counter-insurgency and direct action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garud Commando Force</span> Indian Air Force unit

The Garud Commando Force is the special forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in September 2004 and has a current strength of over 1500 personnel. The unit derives its name from Garuda, a Hindu God.

Ghatak Platoons are special operations capable reconnaissance platoons present in every infantry battalion of the Indian Army. Ghatak is a Sanskrit word meaning "killer" or "lethal". Their name was given to them by General Bipin Chandra Joshi. They act as shock troops and spearhead assaults ahead of the battalion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vasanth Venugopal</span> Ashoka Chakra recipient (1967–2007)

Colonel Vasanth Venugopal, AC was an Indian Army officer. He was the commanding officer of the 9th battalion, Maratha Light Infantry. On 31 July 2007, he was killed in action while preventing heavily armed infiltrators from crossing the India-Pakistan border at Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. As a result he was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest military decoration for peacetime gallantry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuni Lal</span>

Naib Subedar Chuni Lal AC, VrC, SM was an Indian Army soldier of 8th battalion. The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. He was born in Bhaderwah, and basically from Gandhari Paddar and lived in Bhara village with parents Shanker Dass and Shakuntala Devi in Doda district of Jammu. Decorated with Vir Chakra and Sena Medal (Gallantry), JC-593527, Lal was killed in action on 24 June 2007 in a militant flush-out operation in Kashmir's Kupwara sector. These militants, all of whom were also shot dead, were trying to cross the Line of Control (LoC) and enter Indian territory. The success of this militant flush-out operation, which claimed his life, earned him the highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield, the Ashok Chakra. He is the highest decorated soldier of Indian Army of all time, honored with Sena Medal, Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra.

Human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir range from mass killings, enforced disappearances, torture, rape and sexual abuse to political repression and suppression of freedom of speech. The Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Border Security Personnel (BSF) have been accused of committing severe human rights abuses against Kashmiri civilians. According to Seema Kazi, militant groups have also been held responsible for similar crimes, but the vast majority of abuses have been perpetrated by the armed forces of the Indian government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mukund Varadarajan</span> Indian Army Ashok Chakra recipient (1983–2014)

Major Mukund Varadarajan AC was an Indian Army officer and a recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.Mukund, a commissioned officer in the Indian Army's Rajput Regiment was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra for his actions during a counterterrorism operation while on deputation to the 44th Rashtriya Rifles battalion in Jammu and Kashmir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dinesh Raghu Raman</span> Indian Army Ashoka Chakra recipient (1978-2007)

Major Dinesh Raghu Raman, AC was an Indian military officer with the 19th Battalion of the Jat Regiment who was posthumously awarded India's highest peacetime military decoration Ashoka Chakra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanjog Chhetri</span> Indian Army Ashoka Chakra recipient (1982-2002)

Paratrooper Sanjog Chhetri, AC was an Indian soldier and a recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peace time military decoration.He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra for his actions during an Indian Army counterterrorism operation on 22 September 2002 while serving with the 9 Para. He is the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arun Singh Jasrotia</span>

Captain Arun Singh Jasrotia, AC, SM was an Indian military officer in the 9 Para. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peace time military decoration in India. He was also recipient of Sena Medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajiv Kumar Joon</span>

Major Rajiv Kumar Joon, AC, SC was a highly decorated Officer in the Indian Army. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peace-time military decoration. He was previously decorated with the Shaurya Chakra, the third-highest peacetime military decoration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sujjan Singh Yadav</span> Indian Army Ashoka Chakra recipient (1953-1994)

Subedar Sujjan Singh Yadav, AC was an Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) with the 13th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment. He was awarded the highest peace time gallantry award Ashoka Chakra posthumously for his action in Operation Rakshak in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir</span> Military operation

Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir include security operations such as Operation Rakshak, which began in 1990, Operation Sarp Vinash in 2003 and Operation Randori Behak in 2020. Other operations include humanitarian missions such as Operation Megh Rahat and operations with a social aim such as Operation Goodwill and Operation Calm Down. The Indian Army works in tandem with the other arms of the Indian Armed Forces and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir such as during Mission Sahayata or joint operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Sunjuwan attack</span>

On 10 February 2018, at predawn, Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists attacked an Indian Army camp in Sunjuwan, Jammu, in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Six soldiers, three attackers and one civilian were killed and 20 were injured including 14 soldiers, and five women and children. This attack coincided with the death anniversary of Afzal Guru, convicted in the 2001 Indian parliament attack. The attack has been described as one of the worst since the 2016 Uri attack.

Major Rohit Shukla SC, SM is an Indian Army Officer of 44 Rashtriya Rifles. He received the Shaurya Chakra, the third highest peacetime military award from the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind at the Defence Investiture Ceremony–I, at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on March 27, 2018. Major Shukla was awarded the Sena Medal on January 26, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nazir Ahmad Wani</span> Indian Army Ashok Chakra recipient (1980-2018)

Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, AC, SM & Bar was an Indian Army soldier and a recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration.At the time of his death, he was serving with an auxiliary battalion of the army's Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment, the 162nd Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army .He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra for his actions during a counterterrorism operation in which his unit was attached with the 34th Rashtriya Rifles battalion. He was the first recipient of the Ashok Chakra from Jammu and Kashmir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandeep Sankhla</span>

Captain Sandeep Shankla was an Indian Army officer who was posthumously awarded India's highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra, for acts in Jammu and Kashmir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sundar Singh (soldier)</span>

Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Sundar Singh, AC was an Indian Army officer who was awarded India's highest peace time military decoration Ashoka Chakra. Lance Naik Sunder Singh was a great soldier of 4th Battalion, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles Punjab.

Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Mahendra Singh, KC, SM is a decorated Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of 9 Para SF. During an operation, he was paralysed on one side of his body.

Assistant Sub-inspector Babu Ram, AC (1972–2020) was a Police Officer of the Special Operations Group (SOG) Srinagar, who was awarded the highest peace time gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra.

References

  1. Col Danvir Singh (18 August 2014). Kashmir's Death Trap: Tales of Perfidy and Valour. Lancer Publishers LLC. pp. 38–39. ISBN   978-1-940988-13-9.