Lakshmanan D

Biography

Rifleman Lakshmanan D hailed from Pudupatti village in Thummukkundu panchayat of Madurai district in Tamil Nadu. He and his twin brother Ramar shared a dream of joining the Armed Forces from their younger days and worked towards it while studying — Lakshmanan pursued a BCom while his brother completed a BBA. The two prepared together and appeared for recruitment, though only Lakshmanan cleared the process. He joined the Army in 2019 at the age of 21 and was inducted into the 11 Rajputana Rifles battalion, an infantry unit renowned for its brave soldiers and numerous battle honours. During 2022, the 11 Rajputana Rifles was deployed in the Rajouri district of Jammu & Kashmir, an area active with militancy and prone to infiltration across the border. The unit's area of responsibility spanned dense jungle and rugged mountainous terrain, demanding regular armed patrols under harsh conditions. In the early hours of 11 August 2022, a group of armed terrorists disguised in police uniforms attempted to storm the 11 Rajputana Rifles base at Parghal in the Darhal tehsil of Rajouri district. At around 2 AM, alert sentries detected suspicious persons approaching the post under cover of inclement weather and dense foliage. When challenged, the terrorists hurled grenades and tried to force their way inside. Rifleman Lakshmanan and fellow troops cordoned off the area and pinned down the intruders, and a fierce gun battle raged for nearly four hours. The soldiers eventually eliminated both terrorists, but Rifleman Lakshmanan and several comrades were severely wounded during the exchange of fire. He succumbed to his injuries, laying down his life at the age of 24 in the line of duty.