Varun Katal

Biography

Rifleman Varun Katal was born in Mawa village, in the Rajpura tehsil of Samba district, Jammu & Kashmir. He joined the Indian Army and was assigned to the 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. In November 2018, Rifleman Katal's unit was deployed in the Sunderbani Sector near the Line of Control. The area was highly volatile and unstable, as enemy forces frequently resorted to unprovoked firing from across the border. On 10 November 2018, Rifleman Katal was posted at one of the forward posts in the Sunderbani Sector. That morning, at around 9:45 am, Pakistani forces initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation in the Khour area of the sector, to which the Indian Army responded firmly. During the exchange of fire, Rifleman Varun Katal was grievously injured and attained martyrdom. A brave and dedicated soldier, he laid down his life in the service of the nation at the young age of 21.