Captain Baleyada Muthanna Cariappa (Vir Chakra Awardee) is a Kargil War Hero of India. He was of the 5 Para unit of the Indian Army Infantry and his service number was IC-54977.

 

 

On the night of 20 June 1999, Captain Baleyada Muthanna Cariappa and his column formed part of the battalion group tasked to capture point 5203 in Jammu and Kashmir, a feature strongly held by the enemy, where earlier attempts had failed.

 

 

Captain Cariappa’s column successfully infiltrated by night after treacherous and a near vertical climb of nine hours. Enemy engaged the column by intense automatic fire. Captain Cariappa led the physical assault and lobbed grenades in the enemy sangar, instantly killing two enemy personnel. His exceptional bravery and leadership quality helped in successful capture of point 5203 against intense enemy opposition by first light of 21 June 1999.

 

On the night of 22/23 Jul 99, Captain Cariappa was again tasked to capture Area Conical on the Line of Control. The officers columns closed in on the objective after a treacherous climb in which he sustained injuries on his neck. Despite being wounded, the officer crawled to a vantage point and shot dead two enemy personnel, thereby neutralising the enemy position and facilitating capture of Area Conical. Subsequently, two counter attacks were successfully repulsed. For this exceptional heroic act Captain B M Cariappa was awarded by Vir Chakra.