8 November, 2020: Remembering Shaurya Chakra awardee Captain Ashutosh Kumar who laid down his life fighting terrorists on this day
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November 8, 2020 was the day when Captain Ashutosh Kumar (24) laid down his life fighting terrorists in Macchil sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district. He was posthumously awarded Shaurya Chakra-
country’s third-highest gallantry award--from President Ram Nath Kovind in 2022.
The late officer was from village Parmanpur in Bihar’s Madhepura.He completed his schooling from Sainik School in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar. After completing his schooling, Kumar joined the 132nd course at the Pune-based National Defence Academy (NDA). From there, he proceeded to complete his training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.
He was deployed with the 18th Battalion of the army’s Madras Regiment.
In that operation, all the three terrorists were gunned down. Havildar Praveen Kumar, Rifleman Ryada Maheshwar and BSF jawan Sudip Kumar also laid down their lives in the same operation.
His citation reads…
Captain Ashutosh Kumar was performing the duties of Ghatak Platoon Commander deployed at a post close to line of control in Jammu and Kashmir.
On 08 November 2020, on receipt of information of likely escape of terrorists, Late Captain Ashutosh proceeded to establish stops along the likely routes of escape. At 0630 hours cut off group led by late Capt Ashutosh observed move of escaping terrorists. The officer displaying raw courage continued to maintain contact and closed in with the terrorists. While closing in, the scout of the group sustained a bullet injury. Sensing grave danger to own troops and seeing the terrorist escape, officer with utter disregard to his personal safety and displaying grit of steel while being completely exposed to terrorist fire, with complete calmness took an aimed shot and brought down the terrorist at a very close range. In the ensuring gunfire he sustained a gunshot wound and succumbed to injuries on the spot.
Captain Ashutosh Kumar displayed indomitable courage and professional acumen of highest order in saving his fellow soldier's life and eliminating hardcore terrorist with utter disregard to his own safety and made supreme sacrifice for the nation.