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Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
The barefoot Naga in Kargil's bloodiest night
Chandigarh: It was the bloodiest night of the Kargil War . As dawn broke on June 29, 1999, a beleaguered Commanding Officer of the 2 Rajputana Rifles (2 Raj Rif), Col M B Ravindranath, Vir Chakra, was taking stock of the blood that had seeped into the forbidding, lifeless alpine rocks. Three of his officers and 10 other ranks had made the supreme sacrifice, 51 were wounded, including 36 critically. None more heroic of those against-all-odds actions than that of the Naga officer, Capt N Kenguruse. As the attack stalled that night, Kenguruse had barefoot launched a suicidal assault up the vertical cliff face of Lone Hill on the Drass LoC. The slippery slopes of Lone Hill had not afforded traction to his Army-regulation snow boots, so he just dumped them. But the odds were so stacked against the daredevil action that Kenguruse never got to the top. All that the Pakistani soldiers of the 6 Northern Light Infantry (SIKKIS) had to do was to push boulders off the top and onto Kenguruse and Hav. Sharman Singh, both of whom were clinging to a precipice under angled fire from the top. They plunged off the cliff, 200 feet to their deaths. Kenguruse, forever frozen in immortality at age 25, was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) while Singh the Sena Medal (Gallantry). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo Kenguruse's fatal initiative epitomised the raw courage displayed by the Indian Infantry in the unique alpine battles of Kargil where it attacked the waiting enemy in frontal assaults and up heights ranging in excess of 19,000 feet. These were heights, terrain and such tempestuous weather, that other nations would dare send only mountaineering expeditions. But here Indian soldiers fought with blood, guts and 'jugaad' resulting in 545 deaths. The Indian soldiers had etched with their blood a saga unparalleled in the annals of super-high altitude warfare. That fateful night, Kenguruse, the indomitable Naga from Nerhema village, Kohima, was leading the battalion's Ghatak platoon (commandos) tasked by the CO to act as a protective patrol to Delta Company's infiltrating column under the command of Maj. Mohit Saxena, Vir Chakra. D Company''s assault got held up due to the steep and forbidding approach up a vertical cliff face of Lone Hill. Kenguruse seized the initiative, took off his boots, socks and clambered up the cliff. His daring assault picked a route to the enemy's position from a flank but up a vertical mountain wall. On top of Lone Hill was the enemy in section strength, entrenched in bunkers fashioned from boulders (sangers), and supported by a universal machine gun (UMG). As Kenguruse climbed to the top, he took a hit. "As the commando team scaled the cliff face, it came under intense fire, which caused heavy casualties. The officer sustained a splinter injury in his abdomen. Bleeding profusely yet undeterred, he urged his men to carry on with the displayed conspicuous gallantry, indomitable resolve, grit and determination beyond the call of duty and made the supreme sacrifice in the face of the enemy, in true traditions of the Indian Army," said the official citation for Kenguruse's MVC. A detailed account of Kenguruse's last moments supported by photographs of Lone Hill has been penned by the late Ravindranath in his memoir, 'Kargil War: The Turning Point'. The memoir is supported by first-hand accounts from (later Brigadier) Saxena, the D Company commander under whose command during the night of June 28-29, 1999, were placed Kenguruse's Ghataks. "Kenguruse's daredevil assault: Failing to find a way to Lone Hill, Kenguruse led his troops through a rock face, climbing it with bare feet and hands, and had gained a route to the top, and together, they had fought their way to the top. It was then that the enemy in desperation had pushed the stones down on this team. The rolling stones had swept this team down the precipice at the edge of which Kenguruse's team had gathered to launch a final push to the top. It was a merciless tumble for the team, resulting in the death of Kenguruse and Sharman, whose hands still held the grenade he had intended to throw," wrote Ravindranath. As Kenguruse and Singh plunged off the cliff, Delta Company's reserve platoon under Sub. Sayar Singh was still 500 metres behind. The first light of dawn June 29, 1999, was just an hour away and threatening to rob the assaulting Indian troops of the cover of darkness. It was a critical situation, as assessed by the CO, who had staged well forward into the battle. "Overall, in my assessment, Delta Company had expended itself, and despite the heroic efforts, we had yet to capture Lone Hill or succeed in capturing a tactical foothold," wrote Ravindranath. Ultimately, with the Bofors fire coming in and the 18 Garhwal Rifles launching simultaneous flanking assaults on Point 4700, the enemy panicked and vacated its battlements on Lone Hill, Three Pimples and Knoll, which were the three main objectives of 2 Raj Rif that night. Victory had come, but laced heavily with the taste of salty blood in the mouth.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
From Korukonda to Kaliningrad: exemplary journey of a Sainik School product
Korukonda is a small town in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. Many may not be knowing about this small town, but when it comes to the personnel from the armed forces, this is a revered name. It houses one of the top Sainik Schools in the country, which had come into existence in 1961. The school boasts of a proud alumni, which include officers like Lt Gen K. Surendra Nath, former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ARTRAC (Army Training Command), Col. B. Santosh Babu, a recipient of Maha Vir Chakra (posthumous), and who was the Commanding officer of 16 Bihar Regiment and was martyred in the Galwan conflict with China, Malli Mastan Babu, mountaineer and world's fastest seven summiteer and Vice Admiral Murlidhar Sadashiv Pawar, former Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. Adding to the illustrious list of distinguished alumni is Captain Sridhar Tata, who also incidentally hails from Srikakulam district of A.P. Capt. Sridhar is the commanding officer of INS Tamal, the latest state-of-the-art stealth frigate, which will be inducted into the Indian Navy on July 1. It is reported to be the last of the imported naval vessels and was built in Kaliningrad in Russia. The ship, christened Tamal is the eighth of the Krivak class of stealth frigates inducted into the Navy in the past two decades and going by India's home grown push of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', it could presumably, be the last of naval asset from a foreign country. Capt. Sridhar has the unique distinction of leading a team of 250 Naval personnel in accepting and inducting the ship. He hails from a family with a rich defence background. His father, hailing from Chorlangi village of Srikakulam, and father-in-law from Vizianagaram served with distinction in the Indian Air Force for over 30 years and so have his brother and brothers'-in-law, who are holding top positions in the Armed Forces. Captain Sridhar will be creating a history by being the first 'Saikorian' — as the alumni of the school call themselves — to commission as Commanding Officer, a frigate or above size warship, that too abroad. He has a distinguished career of over 26 years in the Indian Navy and has served onboard 12 different warships, including commanding three of them, he has participated in Operation Vijay — Kargil conflict, Operation Parakram — post attack on the Parliament, Anti-Piracy operations amongst other notable missions and operations. He has been instrumental in shaping the Maritime Security of the nation as the founding member of Maritime Security Wing of National Security Council Secretariat under NSA Ajit Doval. Capt. Sridhar will leading one of the most advanced stealth frigate that the navy posses, INS Tamal will be carrying BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the upgraded HUMGA NG Mk II sonar along with the anti-submarine weapon firing complex and a host of advanced communication and navigation equipment. The ship is also fitted with the latest Russian technology, including the upgraded Shtil vertical launched surface to air missile, an improved version of A190-01 100 MM gun, in addition to the standard 30 MM CIWS, heavyweight torpedoes, urgent attack anti-submarine rockets, and a multitude of surveillance and fire control systems. The Saikorians are in an upbeat mood, as Capt Sridhar is one among them who makes the school proud once again.
Pink Villa
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Salman Khan's stylish appearance amid tight security at wedding in Mumbai goes VIRAL following recent breach at Galaxy Apartments
Bollywood megastar Salman Khan caught everyone's attention at a wedding event this past Saturday night, sparking excitement and widespread buzz across social media. Famous for his magnetic charm and iconic presence, the Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam star made a stylish entrance wearing a sleek grey suit complemented by a blue shirt and his trademark bracelet. Numerous clips capturing his arrival at the celebration are now trending online. A video shared by a paparazzo on social media shows Salman Khan arriving at the wedding venue under tight security. The event, hosted at an upscale location in Mumbai, attracted a large crowd that had gathered early, eagerly awaiting the star's arrival. When Salman stepped out of his car, the excitement in the air was palpable, turning the scene absolutely electric. In another clip from the wedding, Salman Khan is seen exiting the venue, prompting an overwhelming reaction from the crowd eager to catch a glimpse of Bhaijaan. Fans and attendees erupted with cheers and waves, with many holding their phones to record the moment. The frenzy briefly escalated into a near-stampede as everyone rushed to get closer to the superstar. Following a recent security scare at Salman Khan's Bandra home and earlier threats received this year, strict security measures were put in place for the wedding. Multiple layers of protection, including his personal bodyguards and officers from the Mumbai Police, were deployed around the venue to safeguard the actor. Still, the crowd's excitement remained uncontrollable despite the heavy security presence. On the professional front, Salman Khan was last seen in AR Murugadoss' Sikandar, which also starred Rashmika Mandanna and Kajal Aggarwal. Unfortunately, the film did not fare well at the box office. Up next, Salman is gearing up for a war drama directed by Apoorva Lakhia, centered around the Galwan Valley conflict. For those unaware, Salman Khan will portray Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the brave officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment who laid down his life for the country during the Galwan Valley clash. He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his gallantry.
Pink Villa
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
EXCLUSIVE: Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt did THIS unbelievable thing to win legal battles, CLAIMS numerologist
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and actor Sanjay Dutt were embroiled in legal controversies for years. While Salman won the case and got relief from the court, Sanjay couldn't and served a few years in jail. Now, Bollywood numerologist Swetta Jumaani opened up on the unbelievable tactic the duo opted for to win their cases. She revealed that they both always wore blue during court cases as it's an auspicious color. In an exclusive conversation with Pinkvilla's Hindi Rush, Swetta Jumaani delved into the influence of colors in people's lives. She revealed, 'Aap ne dekha Sanjay Dutt as well as Salman Khan, agar aap sirf google karoge 'Sanjay Dutt court case' and 'Salman Khan court case', every shot unhone blue pehna hai.' (If you just Google ' Sanjay Dutt court case' or 'Salman Khan court case,' you'll notice every single time, they're wearing blue in the courtroom). She added, 'It's there on the Internet for everybody to see. Dono jab bhi court jaate the, blue pehen ke.' (Both wore blue while visiting court). Swetta elaborated on the deeper meaning of wearing blue, saying, 'Blue and white sabke liye shubh hota hai. It's a universal colour. Yeh blue chattri jiske andar hum sab baithe hai, chahe hum ameer ho ya gareeb ho, jawan hai, buddhe hai, we have all got the blue umbrella.' (Blue and white are auspicious for everyone, they're universal colors. We're all sitting under the same blue umbrella, whether rich or poor, young or old. It unites us all). Watch the full conversation here! On the work front, Pinkvilla earlier exclusively informed you that Salman Khan has finalized his next project with director Apoorva Lakhia. The film is based on the novel India's Most Fearless 3, which is set against the backdrop of the 2020 Galwan Valley Conflict. He will play the role of Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the braveheart from the 16 Bihar Regiment who laid down his life for the nation and was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. The actor will begin shooting for the role in July 2025. Meanwhile, Pinkvilla also reported that Sanjay Dutt will next be seen in Sohail Khan's 'two-hero comedy film' with Aayush Sharma.
Pink Villa
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Salman Khan's intense prep at 60 for upcoming war drama on Galwan Valley conflict will leave you amazed, details
It was just a couple of days back that Pinkvilla exclusively informed you that Salman Khan will begin shooting for his next in July 2025. The film, directed by Apoorva Lakhia, is based on the novel India's Most Fearless 3, which is set against the backdrop of the 2020 Galwan Valley Conflict. Prior to the shoot, the latest report about the superstar's intense workout has surfaced, which is bound to leave you stunned. According to a report published in Bollywood Hungama, Salman Khan is set to undergo an inspiring physical and emotional transformation for the film. The report claims that the film is not just another film for the superstar but a 'mission.' A source close to the development informed the publication that the superstar is committed to an intense training regimen, noting the high-altitude challenges of shooting in Leh and the physical demands of portraying an Army officer like Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu. "He's not just preparing to carry the weight of the uniform - he's carrying the weight of the story. The AK-47 he'll be seen with is symbolic, but the real test is enduring the thinner air, long shoots, and rugged terrain. This prep isn't just physical; it's about doing justice to a national hero," the source said. According to the source, the superstar is approaching the role with utmost sincerity, realizing the responsibility of portraying someone like Colonel Babu. The source noted that it is not just about getting the physicality right, but about honoring a legacy. "He's training not just for the camera, but out of respect for every soldier who serves the nation," the source added. According to the report, Jio Studios is currently in advanced discussions to join the project as a production partner, ensuring the massive scale and support it deserves. The shooting for the film will begin in July 2025, and a theatrical release is being planned for the first half of 2026. For the unversed, Salman will be seen playing the role of Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the valiant officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment who sacrificed his life for the nation. He was posthumously honored with the Maha Vir Chakra.
