Suraj Sharma

Biography

Captain Suraj Sharma was born on 15 October 1975 in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, the son of Shri R. K. Sharma (DSP) and Smt. Radhika Sharma. From an early age he developed a passion for the armed forces and always aspired to join the Indian Army. In 1994 he was selected for the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune, where he excelled in every aspect of his training. He went on to the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in June 1998 into the Parachute Regiment. He later joined 2 Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), an elite unit specialising in mountain warfare and counter-insurgency operations. In July 2001, his unit was deployed in Jammu & Kashmir as part of Operation Rakshak, operating in a militancy-affected area near the volatile Line of Control. On 8 July 2001, following intelligence on the presence of militants, Captain Sharma led a 20-man team on a search-and-cordon operation in the Rajwar forest of Kupwara district. During the ensuing gunfight, well-entrenched militants opened heavy automatic fire under cover of the dense forest. Leading from the front, Captain Sharma was struck by bullets and gravely wounded. He later succumbed to his injuries, laying down his life at the age of 25 while performing his duty.