P K Kamalasanan, VrC

Biography

Havaldar P K Kamalasanan was born on 8 December 1959 in Naranganam village in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, the son of Shri K Narayanan and Smt Kuttiyamma. He was recruited into 12 Madras of the renowned Madras Regiment on 4 November 1979. In 1987, as the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was deployed to Sri Lanka to counter the LTTE, his unit was sent to the island as part of the IPKF contingent. The IPKF launched Operation Pawan on 9 October 1987, a multi-pronged offensive intended to neutralise the LTTE's operational capability in and around Jaffna. After two weeks of bitter fighting, the IPKF wrested control of Jaffna and other major cities, though operations continued for the capture of the surrounding areas and the Jaffna Fort. On 4 November 1987, Havaldar Kamalasanan's unit was tasked with a search operation along the road connecting Chavakchcheri, Savasalai and Meesalai. As the team havaldar of the No. 2 batch, he led his men forward. When the platoon reached a road junction near Meesalai at about 1235 hours, militants concealed in houses to the east opened a pre-planned, well-coordinated fire that pinned down a section of the team. Havaldar Kamalasanan spotted two militants bringing down effective fire on his platoon and realised they had to be neutralised to save his comrades. Disregarding his personal safety, he rose and charged towards the militants, firing from his rifle. Taken aback by his daring, the militants panicked and abandoned their positions, giving his team the crucial time needed to regroup. In the exchange of fire, however, he was hit by two bullets in the abdomen and died on the spot. For his conspicuous gallantry and supreme sacrifice, Havaldar P K Kamalasanan was awarded the Vir Chakra.