Raj Kumar

Biography

Gunner Raj Kumar was a native of Indarsar village in the Khetri tehsil of Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, and the son of Shri Hari Singh Yadav. After completing his early education he joined the Indian Army and was enrolled in the 315 Field Regiment of the Regiment of Artillery, a unit known for its powerful guns and heavy weapons. During the Kargil War, from 14 May to 2 July 1999, the 315 Field Regiment, commanded by Colonel NA Subramanyan, was among the first artillery units deployed at Dras. On its very first day at the Dras base camp the regiment came under heavy shelling, yet it fought back bravely. The unit provided sustained fire support to the 1 Naga, 8 Sikh, 17 Jat and 16 Grenadiers battalions during the operations to recapture Tololing, Point 5140, Black Tooth, Tiger Hill and Point 4875 (Gun Hill). Ahead of the assault on Tiger Hill, the guns fired continuously to shield the advancing infantry. On the evening of 2 July 1999, while manning a gun and relentlessly bombarding enemy positions under intense counter-fire, Gunner Raj Kumar was gravely wounded by an enemy shell and made the supreme sacrifice while performing his duty.