Dhobi Ramachander, MVC
In the Jammu & Kashmir operation 1947-48, roadblocks and laying of ambushes by the enemy were a daily affair. In one such event, Dhobi Ramachander of 14 Fd Coy earned a Maha Vir Chakra, the first civilian to be so honoured. He saved the life of an ASC officer, Lt Fallon, who was injured when the convoy he was leading was ambushed. Breaking away from his non-combatant role, Ramachander picked up a rifle and kept the enemy at bay, then helped the wounded officer to the nearest post, eight miles away.
Maj VR Chowdhary, MVC
Maj Chowdhary of 9 Engineer Regt was in-charge of minefield clearance of Chakra on the Western Front in 1971. The safe lane had to be made with great speed to enable tanks and anti-tank weapons to reach Chakra, which was in immiment danger of an enemy counter-attack. With utter disregard to personal safety, Maj Chowdhary personally supervised the operation, inspiring and motivating his men. While supervising the minefield lane near Basantar river this gallant officer was killed in enemy fire. His wife received his Maha Vir Chakra.
2/Lt AS Bedi, VC
2/Lt A S Bedi of 417 Indep Fd Coy was deployed in Sri Lanka. On June 18, 1989, the officer while carrying out a search in a jungle, spotted a few militants trying to escape by crossing a lagoon. Judging the distance quickly, he manoeuvred his boat to engage the fleeing militants and succeeded in killing one and injuring three others.
Unfortunately, while moving through a narrow channel, heavy fire was brought down on his boat by another group of militants. During the ensuing fight, 2/Lt A S Bedi and two other ranks were hit and succumbed to their injuries. 2/Lt Bedi was awarded Vir Chakra posthumously.
Friday, October 7, 2005
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