Tarsaim Lal

Biography

Rifleman Tarsaim Lal hailed from Gandli village in the RS Pura block of Jammu district in Jammu & Kashmir. Drawn from his youth to the discipline and pride of soldiering, he was enrolled into the Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry and served with its 12th Battalion. During Operation Vijay in June 1999, his battalion was given the demanding task of recapturing Point 5203, a formidable feature standing at around 17,000 feet in the Batalik sector. He formed part of a thirteen-man team led by Captain Amol Kalia that was airlifted into the hostile heights and launched a daring assault under the cover of darkness against the well-prepared enemy bunkers. After a foothold had been won amid repeated enemy counter-attacks, Rifleman Tarsaim Lal succumbed to his injuries on 10 June 1999, falling alongside Havildar Kartar Singh in the recapture of this strategically vital position. He is remembered with deep respect for his courage and his selfless devotion to the service of the nation.