Yogesh Gupta

Biography

Major Yogesh Gupta was born on 5 September 1973 in Phillaur, in the Jalandhar district of Punjab, into the family of Shri Ved Prakash and Smt Lalit Mohini. He received his initial schooling at Goraya and Batala in Punjab before joining the Sainik School at Kapurthala. A multi-faceted student, he was equally adept at studies, sports and extracurricular activities. It was during his years at the Sainik School that his resolve to join the Armed Forces took firm shape. He was selected for the prestigious National Defence Academy, joining its 90th course, and after further training at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, was commissioned into 274 Medium Regiment of the Regiment of Artillery, the combat arm renowned for its booming guns and immense firepower. A jovial officer, popular among his friends and comrades, Major Yogesh Gupta was later deputed to serve with the 25 Rashtriya Rifles battalion deployed in Jammu & Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations. By 2002 his unit was operating in the militancy-affected Poonch district. On 11 July 2002 intelligence indicated the presence of hard-core terrorists in the Surankot area, and a joint operation with 9 Para (Special Forces), codenamed "Prachand Prahar", was launched in the early hours of 12 July. Leading one of the columns into the Ranjati area of Surankot tehsil, Major Yogesh Gupta advanced to occupy the objective. Contact was made with the terrorists around 0400 hours, and in the ensuing firefight he sustained gunshot wounds to his abdomen. Despite being seriously injured, he continued to engage the enemy and personally eliminated four terrorists, with five neutralised in all. Evacuated to 169 Military Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. Major Yogesh Gupta led from the front like a true military leader, laying down his life in the service of the nation in the highest traditions of the Army.