It’s not every day, we see such real heroic persons. Far from home and loved ones, people work in Indian Army sacrifice their own lives to ensure the entire nation sleeps in peace. They ignore freezing cold temperatures and scorching heat and remain awake to save the nation from enemies.
There is one super hero Digendra Kumar who is a former member of the 2nd Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles regiment of the Indian army killed 48 Pakistani soldiers single handedly even after 3 bullets hit his chest and 18 bullets hit on his chest armour.
Yes, it is not a movie shoot. It’s real heroic deed.
Let’s go back to kargil war in Jammu and Kashmir….
The team was combined of Major Vivek Gupta, Subedar Bhanwar Lal Bhakar, Subedar Surendra Singh Rathor, Lance Naik Jasvir Singh, Naik Surendra, Naik Chaman Singh Tewatia, Lans Naik Bachchan Singh, CMH Jashvir Singh,Havaldar Sultan Singh Narwar and Digendra Kumar. Digendra Kumar commanded the Light Machine Gun Group.
Major Vivek Gupta of the Rajputana Rifles – 2nd Battalion and his company were sent to recapture Point 4590 on Tololing Hill in the Dras sector. The objective was to capture the enemy post, located at high altitude (15,000 feet).
In the Kargil war, the most important task was to recapture the top of Tololing. This task was entrusted to the Rajputana Rifles – 2nd Battalion.
So, General Malik called a meeting of the Rajputana Rifles at Gumri and explained the situation. Digendra Kumar introduced himself as Cobra, a commando of Indian Army and explained his strategy to capture the hill.
Digendra indicated that he needed 100 meters of Russian rope that should weigh 6 kg with bearing capacity of 10 tonnes along with Russian nails which could be easily put in the rocks. He also demanded injections of high power that could remove fatigue and provide courage. With this material they would climb the hill during the night and put the rope up to hill top with the help of nails. The path was formidable and inaccessible but he had examined and tested the area well with field binoculars.
The day before the execution of the plan, at about 11 a.m., General Malik, encouraging Digendra, said,
“Son! Accept congratulations of V. P. Malik 48 hours in advance of our success. Son! If we win the Kargil, Malik himself will bring breakfast for you tomorrow morning”.
The plan was executed on the evening of 10 June 1999. There was deadly silence in the hills except for the blasts. Slowly and slowly with cautious steps Digendra and his companions moved ahead with military goods. They put nails in the rocks and tied the rope. When they got tired halfway up they took the injections. When Digendra's hands stopped working, he gripped the rope with his teeth. There was a 5000 feet deep chasm below. After 14 hours they reached the top of Tololing.
Actually the target time was 24 hours. Such was the motivation within the soldiers to protect our motherland.
The Battle Began…
Indian soldiers started to attack; Digendra successfully destroyed the first bunker. Pakistan Army also fired at the Indian soldiers. Soon three bullets hit his chest and one leg was badly wounded. His upper body faced 18 bullets, his shoes were missing and his uniform was torn away. He also realized that the LMG was also missing in the fierce battle. He bandaged himself to prevent blood loss.
Subedar Bhanwar Lal Bhakar, Lance Naik Jasvir Singh, Naik Surendra, and Naik Chaman Singh were killed.
Digendra was given a pistol from Lans Naik Bachhan Singh, and a grenade from Sultan Singh. Major Vivek Gupta was killed with a bullet in the head. Digendra hurled the grenades in the other bunker successfully destroying all bunkers. He threw 18 grenades into 11 bunkers.
Major Anwar Khan, from the enemy camp, appeared over Digendra, who had only one bullet remaining. He shot Khan and dislodged his pistol from his hands. Not realizing he was out of bullets, Digendra tried to shoot with the pistol but in vain.He immediately jumped on him and killed him.
Finally, Digendra recaptured the top of the hill and hoisted the Indian tri-colour flag on 13 June 1999 at four O’clock in the morning.
This is how Digendra Kumar got the name Cobra.
As a part peace keeping force, Digendra was even sent to Sri Lanka sent by Indian Army. There he was a personal body guard of a General. When these were sitting in an open Army jeep in Lanka, a LTTE terrorist slowly threw a grenade at their Jeep.
But Digendra Kumar caught the grenade before it could blast and threw it at the LTTE terrorist. The grenade got exploded and the terrorist’s head was blown off into pieces. Digendra’s team member said that this soldier is dangerous than a Cobra. So, from then Digendra is known as Cobra.
The Indian commando Digendra Kumar killed 48 Pakistani soldiers single handedly at the Kargil war, 1999.. He was awarded the Mahavir Chakra on 15 August 1999, for his acts of bravery in the Kargil War. He retired from the army on 31 July 2005.
Most of the people become fan to the reel heroes who does dupe stunts. Then, what about this kind of real heroes in Indian Army who sacrifices their worldly pleasure to save our motherland?
Isn’t this a motivating incident from the Kargil war where every youth should remember?
Share your valuable opinions in the comments.
