Atul Katarya, SM

Biography

Lieutenant Atul Katarya was born on 21 February 1975 in Gurgaon into a military family. From childhood he displayed qualities of leadership and aspired to follow in his father's footsteps by joining the Army. After completing his schooling he joined the National Defence Academy, passing out in 1995, and was commissioned from the Indian Military Academy in 1996 into the 13 Punjab Regiment. A dynamic and committed soldier, he quickly proved his worth in the unit. He developed a remarkable ability to gather intelligence on militants through unconventional and innovative methods, volunteered for high-risk missions, and played a key role in eliminating several terrorists during his short tenure in Kashmir. His warm nature endeared him even to local people, who affectionately called him "Abdul". On 14 October 1998, acting on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the Sangarwani area of Pulwama district, Lieutenant Atul was chosen to lead the operation. Launching an aggressive assault on the militant hideout, he gunned down four terrorists during the fierce firefight before being caught in a hail of bullets and making the supreme sacrifice at the age of 23. For his bravery, leadership and sacrifice, he was awarded the Sena Medal.