Kaushal Yadav, VrC

Biography

Naik Kaushal Yadav was born on 4 October 1969 in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. After completing his schooling, he joined the Army at the age of 19 and was recruited into the Parachute Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its bold and daring operations. He later joined 9 Para (Special Forces), the oldest of the Indian Army's Para SF units, raised in 1966 as the 9th Parachute Commando Battalion. During 1999, Naik Kaushal Yadav was deployed in the Dras sector under Operation Vijay, launched in response to large-scale Pakistani intrusion into Indian territory. On 25 July 1999, as a squad commander, he was tasked with capturing Zulu Top, an objective at 5,100 metres marked by sheer vertical slopes, temperatures of minus 15 degrees and extensive enemy minefields. Using his exceptional mountaineering skills, he led his squad up the western approach and opened a route for his comrades to follow. Realising the enemy was attempting to dislodge them, he led the assault from the front. Disregarding his own safety, he charged a well-fortified enemy position, lobbed grenades into their sangar and fired from the hip, killing five enemy soldiers in close combat. Grievously wounded during the fierce firefight, he later succumbed to his injuries. For his outstanding gallantry and supreme sacrifice, he was awarded the Vir Chakra.