STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: 12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) was inducted into Yaldor sub sector in May 1999. It was tasked to drive a wedge between the enemy’s defences on Point 5203 and those on the Khalubar Ridge, which were separated by the Junk Lungpa (Lungpa translates as stream from Ladakhi). The Battalion inducted through the Junk Lungpa at night under the very nose of the enemy. Consequently, heavy artillery and machine gun was directed upon them. On 1st June, the Battalion captured Point 5390, which was thereafter utilised to bring down artillery fire onto enemy defences, which caused massive damage to his positions.
On 7th June 1999, 12 JAK LI and 5 PARA launched their attack. By morning of 8th June, they had reached within striking distance of the enemy’s position, where they lay quietly throughout the day. In the evening, the enemy launched counterattacks just as our forces were about to launch their assault. 12 JAK LI lost Captain Amol Kalia in a valiant action to beat back the enemy’s second counter-attack. On that fateful night, 13 brave hearts of 12 JAK LI made the supreme sacrifice, beating back counter-attack after counter-attack launched from well prepared defences by the enemy. Captain Amol Kalia, Subedar Bahadur Singh and Lance Naik Ghulam Mohammad Khan were awarded Veer Chakra (Posthumous) for their acts of bravery that night. For 12 days, the troops held on to their tenuous defences under fire. Finally, on 20th June, a multidirectional attack was launched on the feature by one company of 5 PARA and two companies of Karakoram Wing Ladakh Scouts, which succeeded in making the enemy abandon their defences and run for their lives. By 0700 hours on 21st June 1999, Point 5203 had been recaptured. Seven dead bodies of the troops of 7 NLI of Pakistan which had been left behind by their comrades were given a military funeral by the troops of 12 JAK LI. Captain B.M Cariappa of 5 PARA was awarded a Veer Chakra for his act of gallantry that night and for later battles.
