Kargil Vijay Diwas, celebrated on July 26, marks India's decisive victory in the 1999 Kargil War. The day honors the bravery, sacrifice, and resilience of the soldiers who fought to reclaim Indian territories that had been illegally occupied by Pakistani intruders in the high-altitude Kargil region of Ladakh.

Marking the end of this war, Kargil Vijay Diwas serves as a reminder of the courage and determination of the Indian military. The war was active for two months, lasting from May 3, 1999 to July 26, 1999. It began when Pakistani soldiers and militants infiltrated into Indian territory across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

While battles like Tololing, Tiger Hill, and Drass have become symbols of heroism and sacrifice, there were many other lesser-known battles that played a crucial role in the final victory.

The Battle of Point 5140

The battles for Point 5140 was one of the first major Indian victories in the Kargil War. The point was located near the Srinagar-Leh Highway. Captain Vikram Batra from the JAK Rifles led the attack. His team climbed the mountain at night in freezing cold weather and took the enemy by surprise.

After the win, Captain Batra said the famous words "Yeh Dil Maange More" which became a symbol of bravery. While Captain Batra is well known, many people do not know about the courage of his teammates especially Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, who also fought bravely and later received the Pram Vir Chakra.

The Battle of Khalubar Ridge

The battle was fought in the Batalik sector, Khalubar Ridge was the site of a fierce engagement involving the 1 Bihar and 18 Grenadiers regiments. The ridge was heavily fortified by Pakistani fighters. It was during this battle that Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey of 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, displaying unmatched courage, led multiple attacks despite being wounded. His bravery earned hinm the Param Vir Chakra.

The Recapture of Point 4875

Point 4875, located in the Mushkoh Valley was a high-altitude peak heavily defended by enemy forces. This sector witnessed some of the bloodiest hand-to-hand combat in the entire war. Captain Vikram Batra played a pivotal role, but many soldiers of the 13 JAK Rifles gave their lives in an uphill assault.

Among them was Lieutenant Anuj Nayyar, who led soldiers' group to recapture a crucial bunker and was killed in the final stages of the operation.

The Secret Mission at Point 4590

Point 4590 is a ridgeline located near the LoC in the Batalik sub-sector. As per the sources, this point was being used as a major supply route by intruders. The 12 JAK LI regiment carried out a secret mission to stop the enemy from getting supplies. Despite limited air support and challenging weather, the unit neutralized the position, severely disrupting the enemy's movement.

The battles fought in the Kargil war reminds of the courage and sacrifice of countless soldiers. Behind every flag raised and every peak reclaimed were brave hearts who fought silently and selflessly.

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