Page 8 - English 01-15 March, 2026

PERSONALITY | Rifleman Sanjay Kumar

Eliminated the

enemy with their

Own Weapon Born: March 3, 1976

Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, awarded the Param Vir Chakra for exceptional
bravery, displayed indomitable courage during the Kargil War, defeating the
enemy with their own weapons. Despite being covered in blood, this valiant
soldier refused to retreat from the battlefield. He kept fighting the enemy
until Point Flat Top was completely freed of enemies…

orn on March 3, 1976, in Kalol Bakain leaving behind a universal machine gun and
village, Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, fleeing. Rifleman Sanjay Kumar picked up the
BSanjay Kumar was the youngest of three universal machine gun and opened fire on the
sisters and two brothers. He had dreamed of fleeing soldiers, killing several more. Despite
joining the army since childhood. The heroic tales bleeding profusely, he refused to retreat. His
of war told by his uncle, who had participated in courageous action inspired his comrades, who
the 1965 India-Pakistan war, and other villagers charged the enemy and ultimately captured the
who had joined the army inspired him to join the Flat Top area.
army. Determined Sanjay Kumar finally succeed- For displaying high levels of gallantry and in-
ed in 1996 and joined the 13th Battalion of the domitable courage, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar was
Jammu and Kashmir Rifles as a soldier. awarded the Param Vir Chakra after the battle.
On July 4, 1999, Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, a Naib Subedar Sanjay Kumar was commissioned
leading scout with a company of the 13th Jammu as a Junior Commissioned Officer in the Indian
and Kashmir Rifles, was sent to recapture the Army on July 2, 2014. Furthermore, in recogni-
Mushkoh Valley in Jammu and Kashmir. Upon tion of his dedication and devotion to the Army,
reaching the summit, he came under intense Sanjay Kumar, a National Defence Academy
fire from an enemy bunker. In the ensuing instructor, was promoted to the rank of Subedar
hand-to-hand combat, he killed three intruders Major in February 2022. In 2026, the Indian Army
and was seriously wounded himself. This action conferred on him the rank of Honorary Captain
took the enemy soldiers completely by surprise, on Republic Day. n

6 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || March 1-15, 2026