Yashvir Singh Tomar, VrC

Biography

Company Havildar Major Yashvir Singh Tomar served with 2 Rajputana Rifles. During Operation Vijay in the summer of 1999, the 56 Mountain Brigade was tasked with recapturing the dominating heights of Tololing in the Drass sector, which Pakistani intruders had occupied to threaten the vital Srinagar-Leh highway. The plan called for 2 Rajputana Rifles to assault Tololing Top while 18 Grenadiers provided a firm base. When the battalion launched its assault on Tololing Top at 2030 hours on 12 June 1999, the leading 'Charlie' Company was commanded by Major Vivek Gupta. Company Havildar Major Yashvir Singh Tomar was part of this company. Despite heavy artillery and automatic fire, the men closed in on the enemy across open ground at nearly 15,000 feet. As the assault closed on the final enemy bunkers, the men crawled forward under devastating machine gun fire, using shell craters for cover. With the situation hanging in the balance, CHM Yashvir Singh gathered grenades from his comrades and assaulted the last bunkers, hurling eighteen grenades to silence them. His bold action turned the course of the battle and secured Tololing - the first major victory of the Kargil War. For this act of supreme gallantry he was awarded the Vir Chakra (Posthumous).