Hemant Prem Kumar, SM

Biography

Captain Hemant Prem Kumar was born on 29th October 1974 and hailed from Pune in Maharashtra. Born into a military family, the son of Lt Col Joseph Prem Kumar and Mrs Priscilla, he nursed the ambition of joining the armed forces from childhood. Following his dream, he joined the army at the age of 23 and was commissioned on 5th September 1997 into the 15 Jat battalion of the Jat Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its gallant soldiers. In 2000, Captain Hemant Prem Kumar's unit was deployed in the Tamenglong district of Manipur. During this period he served as the battalion Adjutant while also functioning as commander of the unit's Ghatak platoon. At the time, insurgents belonging to the NSCN-IM faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland were active in the unit's area of responsibility. In a short span of time Captain Hemant developed a strong intelligence network and led numerous operations against the insurgents in the area. On 30th August 2000, he carried out yet another counter-insurgency operation in Tamenglong bazar. After completing the mission successfully, he and his comrades were heading back to the unit when, at around 1335 hours, NSCN-IM insurgents ambushed them in a pre-planned attack. Captain Hemant, the primary target, took direct hits to his chest, back and leg. Despite his grievous wounds, in a rare display of courage he engaged the attackers effectively, forcing them to flee and saving the lives of his troops. He later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. For his exceptional courage, leadership and supreme sacrifice, Captain Hemant Prem Kumar was awarded the Sena Medal.