Friday, Mar 29 2024 | Time 16:58 Hrs(IST)
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Developing India Mirror


Hero of Tololing Heights

By Brig. (Retd.) R. Vinayak, VSM

BHOPAL: The indomitable courage of the Indian soldier has been evidenced time and time again on blood-bespattered Rezang La, dusty Jarpal and other battlefields. It was to salute this very spirit that Armed Forces veterans residing in this City of Lakes organised a function on May 30 at the Shaurya Smarak to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Lance Naik Rajender Singh Yadav, Sena Medal (Posthumous) who made the supreme sacrifice in CQC (close quarters combat) during the Kargil conflict. 


Turning the pages of India’s military history reveals that on May 30, 1999 L/Naik Yadav was in hand-to-hand fighting with well-entrenched and heavily-fortified Pakistani intruders on the icy and treacherous Tololing heights in Drass Sector. He was also manning a radio set and passing information of the progress of the operation to Battalion Headquarters. The soldier refused to quit despite grievous injuries caused by gunshot wounds and continued to engage the enemy till he succumbed to blood loss. 

The Lance Naik hailed from Khargone District’s Ghugariakhedi village where preparations were underway for a community lunch when the tidings came that his bullet-riddled body was found. As the warrior’s remains were brought home, his spouse Pratibha Devi – in the family way – wept on seeing an unopened letter, the last she had sent him… 
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