Ranbir Katoch, SM

Biography

Major Ranbir Katoch hailed from Bhullana village in the Palampur area of Himachal Pradesh and was born on 26 June 1970. The son of army veteran Major PC Katoch, he was schooled at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Delhi Cantonment, and went on to graduate from Ramjas College, Delhi University, before joining the Indian Military Academy. A second-generation officer following in his father's footsteps, he was commissioned into 109 Light AD Regiment (SP) of the Air Defence Artillery (later the Army Air Defence) on 11 December 1993 at the age of 23. Over the years he matured into a committed soldier admired by superiors and juniors alike for his bravery, initiative and leadership. In December 1998 he was deputed to serve with the 7 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, then deployed in Jammu & Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations. In August 1999 his unit was operating in the Anantnag district of J&K, close to the Line of Control, an area affected by active militancy. On 21 August 1999, acting on credible intelligence about the presence of terrorists in Sungan village, his unit launched a search-and-destroy operation. Major Katoch led the assault team on a seven-hour march over mountains in pitch darkness to maintain surprise. At first light, while searching the area, his column came under heavy automatic fire from a machine gun and AK-56 rifles. Realising the danger to his men, Major Katoch rushed forward with his party to cut off and pin down the militants, engaging them with heavy fire despite grave personal risk. Though seriously wounded, he charged the enemy and eliminated them in an encounter that lasted over three hours, before succumbing to his injuries. For his exceptional courage, leadership and supreme sacrifice, Major Ranbir Katoch was awarded the Sena Medal.