Diwan Chand Chauhan

Biography

Major Diwan Chand Chauhan hailed from the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, born on 7 August 1962. From childhood he was drawn to the armed forces, and he pursued that dream with determination. He cleared the Combined Defence Services examination and was selected to join the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. He was commissioned into the Brigade of the Guards, an infantry regiment renowned for its brave soldiers and numerous battle honours. After serving with his parent unit, he was posted to the 21 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, deployed for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. He conducted numerous operations against militants, built an effective intelligence network in his unit's area of responsibility, and led several successful counter-infiltration operations. In September 2005, his unit was engaged against militants in Kupwara district as part of Operation Rakshak. On 1 September 2005, intelligence reported an infiltration attempt near the Line of Control in the Rajwar Sector. Major Chauhan swiftly deployed his team to block the escape routes and engaged the militants. In the fierce firefight the infiltration was foiled, but he was hit by gunfire and gravely wounded. He later succumbed to his injuries, laying down his life in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.