Capt Pawan — an intrepid Para commando

Col Dilbag Dabas (Retd)

Pawan Kumar, the only child of Master Rajbir Singh and Kamlesh (both teachers by profession), was born in Badhana village of Jind district on January 15, 1993. Pawan learnt moral values from his father, and love for the motherland from his mother. Once village women asked Pawan’

s mother: “Kamlesh, thara ek hi balak aur voh bhi tamhne fauj me bhej diya”. She proudly replied, “Desh pahle ya balak pahle?” Some mothers are like that.

Pawan did his matriculation from Government High School, Jind. After doing Senior Secondary from BRCM School, Bahal, he joined the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) and on December 14, 2013, was commissioned into 7th Battalion of Dogra Infantry Regiment (7 Dogra). Pawan was also the first from his village to join the NDA. 

The paratroopers, always on the lookout for promising commandos, spotted Lieutenant Pawan Kumar when he led the Western Command adventure squad in January 2015 and took him on their roll. And after three months of rigorous probation and five mandatory parachute jumps, on June 1, 2015, Lieutenant Pawan Kumar joined the elite 10 Parachute (Special Forces) Battalion as a commando; a breed for whom accomplishment of the mission is all that matters, and the nation always comes first. 

Pulwama district, east of Pir Panjal in the Kashmir valley, despite being nowhere near the Line of Control (LOC), had been engulfed in militancy since the time it raised its ugly head in the valley in late eighties. Having taken the heaviest toll on the security forces on February 14 this year, Pulwama district still remains a hotbed of militancy in the valley. However, despite conspicuous overt resistance from a majority of the local population, with the support of paramilitary forces and the state police, Rashtriya Rifles and Para Commando battalions have been doing a commendable job in counter-militancy operations in apprehending or eliminating militants, even at a heavy cost. In one such operation, Captain Pawan Kumar Khatkad happily sacrificed his life and made not only the Khatkads of Badhana and the Indian Army but also the whole nation proud of him. 

Two days before the last action of his life, Pawan had led his team of commandos in Pampore in the Kashmir valley and shot dead two hardcore militants but he too was seriously injured and was evacuated to hospital. After medication, Pawan was granted three days of medical leave and was advised rest to recuperate, but the very next day he rejoined his team for another action. This was his last chat with Naman Sharma and other friends on WhatsApp: Naman, “Teen din full rest karna, phir duty pe jana”. Pawan, “Nahi yar medical leave maine mana kar di aur wapas troop mein aa gaya hoon”. Naman, “Bada jaldi ghav bhar gaya tera”. Pawan, “Nahi dosto, ghav to mission poora hone ke baad hi bharega. Agar shaheed ho jaun to dukhi mut hona, garv karna”. 

The account of his bravery in the War Diary of 10 Para reads...

From October 2015 to February 2016, Captain Pawan Kumar led his team of commandos in four successful operations that resulted in the elimination of six hardcore militants. On February 20, 2016, while still recovering from his past injury and contrary to the medical advice, Captain Pawan Kumar led his team of commandos during an operation in Pampore in Pulwama district. Despite grave risk, the young officer conducted close reconnaissance of the targeted building and decided to conduct intervention operation — a high risk option to obviate collateral damage. Leading from the front, Captain Pawan reached the top floor, firing on the door and the window of the room in which the militants were holed up. As he kicked the door to lob a hand grenade inside, a hidden terrorist shot him from close range. Undeterred by his grievous injuries and refusing evacuation, the officer kept firing at the terrorist and killed him. He also killed another terrorist who was aiming to fire at his men. This gallant action by Captain Pawan Kumar saved the lives of his comrades and set the stage for the elimination of remaining terrorists. 

Captain Pawan Kumar displayed unparalleled courage and indomitable fighting spirit in four consecutive operations and made the supreme sacrifice of his life for the nation and earned for himself the coveted Shaurya Chakra (posthumously)

(The writer is a veteran Gunner, 6 Field Regiment)