A tank man who excelled in infantry combat too
Col Dilbag Singh
Dabas (Retd)
Major Tanuj Grover, son of Dr Vinod Grover, was a first-generation soldier, who was born on November 2, 1983, at Faridabad in the family of doctors.
After senior secondary from DAV Public School, Faridabad, Tanuj graduated in computer science from Delhi University and joined the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun. After two-year military training, he was commissioned into the 69th Armoured Regiment in June 2007.
There are not many field stations for the Armoured Regiments and Mechanised Infantry Battalions. To give them exposure to life near the borders or in militancy-affected areas in the hinterland of Kashmir Valley, their combatants, including the officers, are posted to the Rashtriya Rifles Battalions on a tenure of two to three years. Young officers from these mechanised forces are also posted for a specified duration on cross attachments to Assam Rifles or Infantry Battalions operating in the North East to make up for the deficiency in the posted strength of officers in these infantry battalions. During their tenure, the officers hold the appointments commensurate to their ranks.
Major Tanuj Grover, a Squandron Commander in 69 Armoured Regiment, was posted with the 22nd Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles deployed in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir in March 2014. It was also the period when militancy had got the unexpected boost in Kashmir Valley; the local misguided youth had covertly become not only sympathisers of militants, but many had joined them, thereby making the task of the security forces all the more difficult.
During 2015, Major Tanuj Grover was on the posted strength of 22nd Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) deployed around Sopore in Baramula district of Jammu & Kashmir for anti-militancy operations.
Sopore, being the hometown of Hurriyat Conference strongman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the town and the areas around it were the hotbeds of militancy in Kashmir Valley. Sopore still remains infested but with the vigour considerably subdued. The 22nd RR, incidentally, to date, holds the record of successful cordon and search operations and keeping militancy under control to a large extent. During one such operations, Major Tanuj Grover, for his bravery and determination in fighting the militants, was awarded the Shaurya Chakra.
Major Tanuj Grover, SC, reverted back to the 69 Armoured Regiment, his parent unit, after a successful tenure with the 22 RR. At present, he is pursuing the prestigious staff course at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Nilgiri Hills, in Tamilnadu.
Major Tanuj Grover, SC, belonging to the family of doctors, when asked what career he would advise his son to pursue, said:
“I would love to see my son as a second generation soldier in the traditional Armoured Corps’ dress — black dungarees (overalls).”
(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)
The account of his bravery…
“Major Tanuj Grover was performing the duties of a Company Commander in the 22nd Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles (22 RR) deployed in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. On February 21, 2015, based on inputs received by the 22 RR regarding the presence of terrorists in Thagund village of Sopore district, Jammu & Kashmir, Major Tanuj Grover was tasked to activate his company to eliminate or apprehend terrorists. The officer quickly mobilised his company and established an effective cordon of the village. About 11:15 am, two terrorists who were hiding inside the targeted house in the village started firing indiscriminately at the jawans manning the inner cordon. As grenades were being fired from multiple launchers by the militants, one militant came out firing on the jawans cordoning off the area. Major Grover, with utter disregard to his own safety and displaying raw courage, swiftly positioned himself in front of the militant blocking his escape and shot him from point blank range. Thereafter, the second terrorist jumped out of the cowshed and started firing at the officer. In spite of heavy fire directed onto him, Major Grover closed in to the terrorist, single-handedly overpowered him, and shot him dead, again at point blank range. In the close encounter, Major Grover was seriously injured but he refused evacuation till successful completion of the cordon and search operation. During the operation, Major Grover not only eliminated two hard-core terrorists, but also recovered many automatic rifles and ammunition from their hideout in Thagund village in Sopore block of Baramulla district. During the encounter with hard-core militants, Major Tanuj Grover displayed courage and bravery of a high order, for which he was awarded the Shaurya Chakra”
About the award
- Shaurya Chakra was established as the 'Ashok Chakra Class 3' on January 4, 1952, with the award effective from August 15, 1947. The statutes were revised on January 27, 1967, and the decoration re-named ‘Shaurya Chakra’
- It is awarded for gallantry of a high order other than in the face of the enemy. It is granted to the military personnel as well as to the civilians and may also be awarded posthumously
