Abdul Kareem

Biography

Havildar Abdul Kareem was a native of Sai Thakkar village in the Tikkri tehsil of Udhampur district, though his family later settled in Taranagar village of Kathua district in Jammu & Kashmir. After completing his early education, he joined the Indian Army and was enrolled into the 12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, a regiment renowned for its brave soldiers and its record in numerous operations along the frontier. During June–July 1999, his unit was deployed in the Batalik Sector of Ladakh as part of Operation Vijay during the Kargil War, operating under the command of 70 Infantry Brigade. On the night of 30 June/1 July 1999, Havildar Abdul Kareem, along with Captain Nongrum and other soldiers, was tasked with capturing the strategically vital Point 4812. Advancing steadily and silently from the south-east, the assault team reached the enemy's well-fortified stone sangars near the summit and faced fierce resistance. In the ensuing close-quarter battle, which cleared the way to the objective, Havildar Abdul Kareem was gravely wounded by heavy automatic fire and later succumbed to his injuries, laying down his life in the service of the nation.