Sanjay Chauhan, SC

Biography

Captain Sanjay Chauhan hailed from Solan district in Himachal Pradesh. He was commissioned in December 1991 into the 16th battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, an infantry regiment renowned for its intrepid soldiers and numerous battle honours. Posted to Jammu and Kashmir, he quickly distinguished himself in counter-insurgency operations, developing a remarkable intelligence network and mastering the art of fighting in small teams. He and his men would often disguise themselves as militants to infiltrate their ranks, and he had built up a long record of successful operations in the area. In October 1994, his unit was deployed in the Chokibal area when intelligence sources indicated a likely major gathering of militants in Lachimpora village of the Wariban forest. Captain Sanjay was tasked with drawing up an operational plan to neutralise them. Moving to the company located north-east of Chokibal, with a platoon earmarked as a reserve party, he set out towards the suspected area with a team of three soldiers, all dressed in militant attire. They reached the village and were initially greeted as fellow militants, but when their identity could no longer be concealed they took swift action, escaping the gathering after killing several militants. Heavily outnumbered, the team took up position in an isolated hut and put up a resolute fight until their ammunition was exhausted. The reserve platoon could not reach them in time, and Captain Sanjay and his men were captured and tortured to death, their mutilated bodies recovered later. In the course of the engagement, the team had eliminated eight hardcore militants and seriously wounded two others. For his outstanding courage, leadership, fighting spirit and supreme sacrifice, Captain Sanjay Chauhan was awarded the Shaurya Chakra.