Sis Ram Gill, VrC

Biography

Havildar Sis Ram Gill hailed from Vishanpura village in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, born on 16 July 1961. He enlisted in the Indian Army on 6 December 1979 at the age of eighteen and was inducted into the 8 Jat Battalion of the Jat Regiment, an infantry unit renowned for its brave soldiers and many battle honours; by 1999, after nearly twenty years of service, he had risen to the rank of Havildar. During Operation Vijay in July 1999 the 8 Jat Battalion operated under the 28 Infantry Division in the Kargil sector. On 8 July 1999 Havildar Gill led a team tasked with dominating a high-altitude feature near the Line of Control, close to the Zoji La Pass, across treacherous terrain. Leading from the front with mountaineering equipment, his team drew enemy machine-gun, mortar and artillery fire. Though severely wounded in the leg, he motivated his men and repeatedly fired his sniper rifle, killing six enemy soldiers and wounding four others. He refused evacuation and fought on until he succumbed to his injuries at 0300 hours on 9 July 1999. For his commendable courage, camaraderie and supreme sacrifice, Havildar Sis Ram Gill was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.