Rajesh Jakhar, MiD

Biography

Lance Naik Rajesh Jakhar hailed from the village of Jhanswa in the Jhajjar district of Haryana, a region known for its long tradition of military service. Raised with values of discipline and duty, he joined the Indian Army and was inducted into the 17 Jat Battalion, a unit renowned for its courage and storied history. During the 1999 Kargil War, his battalion, under Colonel U.S. Bawa, was inducted into the Mushkoh Valley on 22 May 1999 as part of 79 Mountain Brigade. A key objective was the capture of Point 4875, a feature that dominated the National Highway between Mugalpur and Drass. On the night of 6 July 1999, the Charlie Company of 17 Jat launched an assault on Pimple II. After the company commander was wounded and evacuated, Captain Anuj Nayyar took charge, and the troops located and cleared four heavily defended enemy bunkers armed with automatic machine guns. During this fierce action, Lance Naik Rajesh Jakhar was hit by enemy fire and succumbed to his injuries. The securing of the Pimple Complex paved the way for the recapture of Tiger Hill. For his conspicuous courage and supreme sacrifice, he was awarded a Mention in Despatches.