Tanzin Chhultim

Biography

Sepoy Tanzin Chhultim was born on 18 November 1991 in Karpat village of the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. He joined the Indian Army in September 2012 and grew into a disciplined and committed soldier. After serving for a couple of years with his parent unit of the Dogra Regiment, he was deputed to the 62 Rashtriya Rifles battalion deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations. On the late night of 2 August 2017, Sepoy Tanzin's unit received intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the Zaipora area of Shopian district. A search-and-cordon operation was launched to neutralise the threat. Sepoy Tanzin was part of the assault team led by Major Kamlesh Pandey that reached the suspected area and began the operation. At around 2 am on 3 August, while the operation was underway, the troops of 62 Rashtriya Rifles came under fire from terrorists shooting from vantage points. A fierce gun battle ensued with heavy exchange of fire. Three soldiers, including Major Kamlesh Pandey and Sepoy Tanzin, were wounded and rushed towards the Army's 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar. Sepoy Tanzin succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital and was martyred. A gallant and committed soldier, he laid down his life in the line of duty, living up to the highest traditions of the Indian Army.