Vir Chakra (VrC)

Rifleman Avtar Singh Panwar and five other ranks were on a mission to searcha the jungle and lagoon area around village Munnaikhedu in Sri Lanka where few militants were reported to be hiding. The area had a thick undergrowth of thorny bushes and marsh. The party had to cut its way through this most difficult terrain. On 18 October 1987, at about 1015 hours, when the column was moving towards the lagoon, they were fired upon by automatic small arms from a distance of 100 metres. Rifleman Panwar was hit by a bullet on his knee.

Unmindful of the injury, he fired back and dashed in the direction of the fire. He spotted a militant running into the lagoon and jumped into the water after him, completely forgetting that he did not know swimming. He continued firing in waist deep water and killed the militant. While on the verge of collapsing, he was rescued by his comrades and evacuated to a hospital. 

Rifleman Avtar Singh Panwar displayed exemplary courage in the face of hostile fire, totally unconcerned with his personal safety.