Chandigarh, January 23
Three Army personnel will be awarded the Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime award for gallantry. They are Col Vasanth V, Capt Harshan R and Naib Subedar Chuni Lal from Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir, who with two decorations for gallantry earlier, would be among the highest decorated soldiers of the Army. All three awards, however, are posthumous and will be received by their kin from the President on Republic Day.
Colonel Vasanth of 9 Maratha Light Infantry had laid down his life in a gunbattle with militants near Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.
Hailing from Karnataka, Colonel Vasanth preferred to join the Army even though he was selected for an MBA course in the IIM. During his college days, he was a keen NCC cadet and had participated in a Republic Day parade in New Delhi and thereafter visited Canada on NCC exchange programme.
Capt Harshan R from Kerala volunteered for the Special Forces and was commissioned into 2 Para (SF) in December 2002.
On March 20, 2007, the officer received information regarding the
presence of militants in a house in the Chhoti Margi area of Lolab.
The officer reached the spot along with his troops. Taking advantage of poor visibility, the terrorists attempted to escape. Four terrorists rushed out firing and virtually came face to face with Captain Harshan.
Despite being outnumbered, the officer killed one terrorist on the spot and in the process he received gunshots on the neck. Despite his injuries, he continued to engage the remaining terrorists before succumbing to his injuries. His actions inspired his colleagues to eliminate the remaining two terrorists.
Besides a skilled mountaineer, he was also an underwater diver and an excellent cross-country runner.
Naib Subedar Chuni Lal, who was decorated with the Vir Chakra and Sena Medal for gallantry in earlier operations, hailed from Bhaderwah and joined 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry in 1985.
On June 24, 2007, after receiving information about likely infiltration in the Kupwara Sector, he relocated ambushes to block all escape routes. Leading from the front, he outmaneuvered the terrorists. By killing three terrorists himself, he inspired and facilitated his small team to neutralise. He was killed during the operation.
Naib Subedar Chuni Lal was earlier decorated with the Sena Medal for playing a crucial role in capturing the now famous Bana Top (21,153 ft) on Siachen Glacier. During Operation Rakshak in Poonch, he fought an attempted intrusion and was instrumental in beating back the attack, killing 12 intruders. He was awarded Vir Chakra for this act of gallantry. He also served in Somalia in 1992 and Sudan in 2006.
