The Progress Of Jharkhand #46 | Page 12

2. When Captain Vikram Batra displayed an example of valor Indian government involved air, sea, and land strikes for over 36 hours, and was a decisive victory for India, ending 451 years of Portuguese colonial rule in Goa. 4. Captain Vikram Batra, was an officer of the Indian Army and was posthumously awarded with the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest and most prestigious award for valour, for his actions during the 1999 Kargil War in Kashmir between India and Pakistan. He celebrated the capture of Point 5140, at an altitude of 17,000 feet, which was under the illegal possession of the Pakistani soldiers. Despite being fired at by heavy machine guns, Captain Batra and his men managed to destroy 2 machine gun posts. Captain Batra’s gallantry was proved when he single-handedly killed 3 enemy fighters in a dangerous combat. He died rescuing an injured officer while leading his men on a successful assault on Point 4875. 3. When the Indian Army helped in the annexation of Goa, against Portuguese in 1961 When India became independent in 1947, Goa remained under Portuguese control. The Indian government of Jawaharlal Nehru insisted that Goa, along with a few other minor Portuguese holdings, be turned over to India. The 1961 Indian annexation of Goa was an action by India’s armed forces that ended Portuguese rule in its Indian enclaves in 1961. The operation, code named ‘Operation Vijay’ by the 12 । The Progress of Jharkhand (Monthly) When 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal single-handedly destroyed Pakistani tanks and troops During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, a bridge was constructed across Basantar river so that the soldiers could crack the enemy-mine field. But half way through, the enemy raided the bridge. The sufficiently armored Pakistan regiment, attacked the Indian troops, which were outnumbered. Therefore, the commander of Squadron sought assistance from Arun Khetrapal. As soon as he got the message, he got into the enemy’s neck and captured many soldiers. Meanwhile, Pakistan blew India’s second tank. Arun Khetrapal single-handedly destroyed 4 tanks of Pakistan. In return, Pakistan wrecked the other two tanks, one of which was Arun Khetrapal’s. He didn’t accept defeat and continued to fight even in his flaming tank. The commander of his troop ordered to abandon his tank, but Khetrapal replied: “No Sir. I’m not going to abandon my tank. My gun is working and I’ll get these bastards.” And because of this gallant soldier, Pakistan couldn’t enter the Indian soil. 5. When Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey’s bravery led to India’s victory in the 1999 Kargil war “If death strikes before I prove my blood, I swear I will kill death.” These were the words of Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey. During the 1999 Kargil war, he led his troop to capture the Jubar top. During this, Pakistan continued to fire on his men. Demonstrating an act of bravery, he went ahead