A boy, Sudhir Kumar, from the Himachal Hills, was selected by the National Defense Academy and, upon completion of training, joined the 3rd Jat regiment.
During the Sri Lankan liberation war, 70,000 Indian soldiers were sent to Sri Lanka to enforce peace between the Sri Lankan Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and Lieutenant Sudhir Walia was one of them. India withdrew its troops in 1990 and lost 1,157 soldiers in this peacekeeping mission. Sudhir made a name for himself with his skills in jungle warfare.
After his return from Sri Lanka, he switched to Regiment 9 Parachute Commando Regiment, the unit of the Indian army for unconventional warfare. 9 Para is one of the Indian Army's four special forces and specializes in mountain operations. He served two six-month missions on the Siachen Glacier, the highest and toughest of all battlefields at an altitude of 6,300 meters, and distinguished himself in high altitude combat.
In 1997 he was selected among the best commandos in India and sent to the US on a specialty course, and when the six-month course ended, Major Walia — the only Indian in the group — had topped it.
When the Kargil War began, Sudhir had ended his tenure with the then Chief of Staff of the Army (COAS) and asked to return to his war-fighting unit. Since he neither wanted to break the established norms nor his spirit, the COAS allowed him to go and bid him a loving farewell.
Within 10 days of his return, he had led Team "A" to conquer the 5,200-meter-high Zulu peak in the Mashkoh sector on July 25th. 1999. 13 Pakistani soldiers of the 19 Frontier force were killed in this operation. (We returned their bodies after the Pakistanis hoisted a white flag). Our own victims were five. According to papers later received by the Army Headquarters Officers' Council, Sudhir was recommended for a Vir Chakra.
A few days later, Rambo, as Maj Sudhir was called by his men, met COAS during his visit in the valley. His para commando team had returned to counter terrorism in the Kashmir valley during those days. The CAOS asked him about his attack on Zulu Ridge without any acclimatization. He smiled and replied, "Sir, you know I'm a Pahari. I don't need acclimatization." COAS told him with a smile not to break the established rules again.
On Sunday, August 29, 1999, one month after the end of the Kargil War, Rambo launched an operation to destroy a terrorist hideout in the dense Haphruda jungle in the Kupwara district. The enemy remained elusive. In the morning when he passed a stream, he saw toothpaste foam at the edge of the water. He knew the terrorists were within range and sneaked upon them.
Maj. Sudhir, who had previously operated in this jungle, had the order to find and destroy a terror hiding place. He and his friend Naik Kheem Singh saw the terrorists deep in the jungle and surprised them with a swift attack and killed nine terrorists. It was a daring action done from the front but unfortunately, Rambo was hit by a bullet that pierced his stomach. Despite being hit, he carried his men on until the end of the operation and after its completion, he succumbed to his injuries.
The nation lost its Rambo in this one violent battle in the Haphurda jungle. In fact, it was a great loss to both the military and the nation. Rambo was recommended and his father received Ashok Chakra on his behalf on the following Republic Day.
LEGENDS NEVER DIE!
Comments
Post a Comment