Birendra Kumar

Biography

Sepoy Birendra Kumar hailed from Bihar and was drawn towards a career in the Army from his younger days. After completing his school education, he fulfilled this ambition and was recruited into the 12 Bihar battalion of the Bihar Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its gallant soldiers and numerous battle honours. Following his training, he soon matured into a fine soldier with admirable soldierly skills. In November 1999, his unit was deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations. Although Operation Vijay had drawn to a close, the Line of Control remained active with sporadic incidents of trans-LoC violence. On 9 November 1999, the Pakistan Army launched an attack on an Indian post, preceded by a heavy artillery bombardment. The attack was repulsed, and to put an end to the frequent hostile actions, the Indian Army decided to launch a coordinated operation named 'Operation Birsa Munda', after the tribal freedom fighter and folk hero. Sepoy Birendra Kumar was part of the Ghatak Team tasked with the operation under the leadership of Captain Gurjinder Singh. On 9 November 1999, Sepoy Birendra Kumar and his comrades launched the assault. The enemy resorted to heavy artillery, mortar and small arms fire, while heavy snowfall and poor visibility at the snowbound post, located at a height of 11,200 feet, added to the difficulty. Undeterred, he and his comrades charged with fury onto the enemy bunkers. In the ensuing action, 17 enemy soldiers were killed, 14 bunkers destroyed and a large quantity of arms and ammunition captured. During the heavy exchange of fire, Sepoy Birendra Kumar was hit by gunshots and severely injured, and soon succumbed to his wounds. For his outstanding courage, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice, he was awarded the Mention-in-Despatches posthumously.