| News Details |
| 13 brave hearts of 12 JAK LI offered supreme sacrifice while beating back counterattack after counterattack during Battle of Yaldor in 1999 | | Capt Anmol Kalia, Sub Bahadur Singh and L/N GM Khan were awarded VC (Posthumous). | 
Drass, (Ladakh), July 22, (Scoop News)-12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) was inducted into Yaldor sub sector in May 1999. It was tasked to drive a wedge between the enemy’s defences on Point 5203 and those on the Khalubar Ridge, which were separated by the Junk Lungpa (Lungpa translates as stream from Ladakhi).
The Battalion inducted through the Junk Lungpa at night under the very nose of the enemy. Consequently, heavy artillery and machine gun was directed upon them. On Jun 1, 99, the Battalion captured Point 5390, which was thereafter utilised to bring down artillery fire onto enemy defences, which caused massive damage to his positions.
On June 7, 1999, 12 JAK LI and 5 PARA launched their attack. By morning of June 8, they had reached within striking distance of the enemy’s position, where they lay quietly throughout the day. In the evening, the enemy launched counterattacks just as our forces were about to launch their assault.
12 JAK LI lost Captain Amol Kalia in a valiant action to beat back the enemy’s second counterattack. On that fateful night, 13 brave hearts of 12 JAK LI made the supreme sacrifice, beating back counterattack after counterattack launched from well prepared defences by the enemy.
Captain Amol Kalia, Subedar Bahadur Singh and Lance Naik Ghulam Mohammad Khan were awarded Veer Chakra (Posthumous) for their acts of bravery that night.
For 12 days, the troops held on to their tenuous defences under fire. Finally, on June 20, a multidirectional attack was launched on the feature by one company of 5 PARA and two companies of Karakoram Wing Ladakh Scouts, which succeeded in making the enemy abandon their defences and run for their lives. By 0700 Hour on June 21, 1999, Point 5203 had been recaptured. Seven dead bodies of the troops of 7 NLI of Pakistan which had been left behind by their comrades were given a military funeral by the troops of 12 JAK LI. Captain BM Cariappa of 5 PARA was awarded a Veer Chakra for his act of gallantry that night and for later battles.
Captain Amol Kalia, Vir Chakra (Posthumous)
On June 7, 1999, 12 JAK LI launched their attack on Point 5203 under Major Sanjiv Dutt and Captain Amol Kalia. Climbing from the Junk Lungpa, the troops reached close to the enemy position by first light of 08 June, where they lay quietly throughout the day to avoid alerting the enemy. The enemy was alerted in the evening of June 8 just as our troops were preparing to launch the assault. A fierce counterattack at 2300 Hours was beaten back by our soldiers.
Leading from the front, Captain Amol Kalia assaulted the nearest enemy position with a handful of men and managed to capture the position. AT 0300 Hours on June 9, the enemy launched a second counterattack supported by artillery, machine guns and RPGs from two directions.
In the hand-to-hand fight that followed, Captain Kalia’s LMG crew was killed. The Officer took over the LMG himself and killed three enemy personnel, injuring three others. During this action, he was seriously injured by a burst of bullets. In spite of this, he continued to fight till his last breath and succumbed to his injuries only when the counterattack had been beaten back and the position had been reinforced by our forces.
For showing raw courage beyond the call of duty in the face of the enemy, dynamic leadership and utmost professional dedication with complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Amol Kalia was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.... |
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