Agra: Living up to their motto ‘Service before Self’, the world’s third largest army lost 85 bravehearts, who made the supreme sacrifice during various counter-insurgency operations and offensive tactical missions in 2015. Apart from ORs, five officers were also killed.
As per Indian army, two colonel and one officer, each, of the rank of lieutenant colonel, major and captain along with two subedar, six naib subedar, 15 havildar, one lance havildar, six naik, 14 lance naik and 36 other rank were martyred.
Right from the army’s elite Para Special Forces to Rashtriya Rifles which directly comes under the ministry of defence who are specialized in counter-insurgency/ anti-terrorist operations, a total of 48 army regiments and unit personnel, who were deployed from the line-of-control in Jammu & Kashmir to borders along the north-eastern states bordering Myanmar attained martyrdom last year.
According to Army, maximum causalties were reported from 6 Dogra regiment in the month of June, in which it lost 15 personnel in a deadly ambush in Manipur’s Chandel district. In the incident, a total of 20 soldiers died. Apart from the Dogra regiment, various units of Rashtriya Rifles deployed in Jammu & Kashmir lost 19 men, followed by Gorkha Rifles, Garhwal Rifles, Rajputana Rifles, Army Service Corps Battalion, 28 Punjab and 9 Para (Special Forces).
IX Para which comes under parachute regiment whose men are trained in Agra as paratroopers for airborne combat, lost three men, out of which Lance Naik Govind Singh Mehta, laid down his life fighting militants in Mendhar sector of Poonch district of Jammu & Kashmir on October 14. He gunned downed five terrorists. He hailed from Uttarakhand, Mehta lived with his family in Agra. Lance Naik Mehta who is 32-year-old took three bullets, including one in the head. For his act of valour, the Army has recommended his name for Sena medal, to be awarded on January 26. He was the third man in his family to serve in the armed forces, apart from his father Pratap Singh and elder brother Mahendra Singh, who fought in the Kargil war.
Speaking to TOI, Army’s central command public relation officer Gargi Malik said, “The Indian Army has always lived up to its pledge of safeguarding the country’s borders and today if we feel safe, it’s all because of the commitment of these courageous men donning the olive green uniform. Our army has many victories to its name, and the stories of sacrifice of our soldiers fill us with immense pride and gratitude.”
Colonel Santosh Yashwant Mahadik of 21 Para (Special Forces) and commanding officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles:
On November 17, succumbed to his grievous injuries under heavy fire from militants, while leading a search party in the dense forests of Haji Naka, near the line of control in Kupwara district of Kashmir.
Colonel Munindra Nath Rai, YSM (Yudh Seva Medal) of 2/9 Gorkha Rifles and commanding officer of 42 Rashtriya Rifles:
On January 28, laid down his life in the fierce encounter against Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist group at Handora village of Tral in south Kashmir.
Captain Prem Kumar Patil of 36 Rashtriya Rifles (Artillery):
On August 7, during a search operation in Gurez sector near Line of Control, he was leading his search party of 36 RR. While roll down he turned back to confirm the presence of any traitors in a hideout behind. While doing this on a slope of 80 degrees, he lost control and fell down in the Nausheranar flowing down below 280 feets where he sacrificed his life.On September 5, creating a unique history of valour and dedication to duty, eliminated 10 militants in a short span of 11 days during three counter-terrorism operations before making the supreme sacrifice in Kashmir.
Lance Naik Govind Singh Mehta of 9 Para (Special Forces):
On October 14, laid down his life fighting militants in Mendhar sector of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. He gunned downed five terrorists. He was from Agra.
Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special Forces):