Kamlesh Pandey

Biography

Major Kamlesh Pandey hailed from Dugoli village in the Haldwani region of Uttarakhand. He was first selected as an airman in the Indian Air Force and later joined the Army as a commissioned officer. After serving with his unit for a few years, he was deputed to the 62 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, deployed in the Jammu and Kashmir region for counter-insurgency operations. During 2017, Major Pandey was posted in Shopian district, where he was regularly involved in operations against militants. On the late night of 2 August 2017, his unit received intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the Zainapora area of Shopian. A search and cordon operation was launched, with Major Pandey leading the assault team into the suspected area. In the early hours of 3 August 2017, as the operation was underway, terrorists opened heavy fire on the 62 RR soldiers from vantage positions. In the ensuing fierce gunbattle, Major Pandey was hit by five bullets, including one to the neck and two to the lungs. Gravely wounded, he succumbed while being evacuated to the Army's 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar, upholding the highest traditions of the Indian Army.