Hemraj Jat

Biography

Grenadier Hemraj Jat hailed from Bhadoon village in the Roopangarh Tehsil of Ajmer district in Rajasthan. He joined the Indian Army in 2017 at the age of twenty-one and was inducted into the 4 Grenadiers battalion of the Grenadiers Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its intrepid soldiers and numerous battle honours. In 2019, Grenadier Hemraj Jat's unit was deployed along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The LoC in this region remained highly active and volatile, with ceasefire violations occurring frequently and without warning. Despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the 2003 ceasefire agreement during flag meetings, Pakistani troops continued to violate the pact. On 1st September 2019, Pakistan Army troops initiated unprovoked firing on Indian posts from across the border in the Poonch sector, resorting to heavy cross-border shelling of Army posts and civilian areas. At the time, 4 Grenadiers was manning the forward posts along the Line of Control. The Indian Army responded in a befitting manner to the aggression, and a heavy exchange of fire ensued, continuing intermittently for several hours. During this cross-border shelling, Grenadier Hemraj Jat was severely injured by shell splinters. He was immediately evacuated to a military hospital for specialised treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries on 1st September 2019. A valiant and committed soldier, Grenadier Hemraj Jat laid down his life at the age of 23 in the service of the nation.