Ashutosh Kumar, SC

Biography

Captain Ashutosh Kumar was born on 15 October 1996 and hailed from Parmanpur village in Bihar's Madhepura district. He completed his schooling at Sainik School Bhubaneswar in Odisha, where his inclination towards the armed forces took root and the foundation of his future military life was laid. His resolve to serve grew with age, and after finishing school he was selected for the prestigious National Defence Academy. He later trained at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and was commissioned in June 2018 at the age of 21 into 18 Madras of the Madras Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its dauntless soldiers and numerous battle exploits. Posted to Jammu & Kashmir as his first assignment, he soon evolved into a committed soldier and a fine officer with superior field-craft skills. In November 2020, his unit was deployed in the Kupwara district close to the Line of Control, regularly engaged in counter-insurgency operations in an area prone to infiltration and frequent ceasefire violations. In the early hours of 8 November 2020, a BSF patrol reported an infiltration bid near the anti-infiltration obstacle system about 3.5 km from the LOC. As the firefight escalated, Captain Ashutosh Kumar led his Ghatak platoon to foil the infiltration and neutralise the militants. Tracking the terrorists through surveillance devices, he deployed his troops tactically to block escape routes and engaged aggressively. When the scout of his cut-off group sustained a bullet injury, the officer, completely exposed to enemy fire and with utter disregard for his own safety, took a calm, aimed shot and brought down a terrorist at close range. Three militants were eliminated in the gun battle. During the exchange he sustained a fatal gunshot wound and succumbed on the spot at the age of 24. For his indomitable courage, leadership and supreme sacrifice, Captain Ashutosh Kumar was awarded the Shaurya Chakra.