Vir Chakra (VrC)

On the night of 15 December 1971, Major Patinhare Veetil Sahadevan, commanding a company of Madras Regiment in the Western Sector, had to attack across a minefield of over 800 yards depth. The company suffered casualties while in the minefield. Major Sahadevan, with utter disregard for his safety, moved ahead and inspired his men to follow him. An enemy medium machine gun firing from a bunker nearby was causing casualties on our troops. Major Sahadevan immediately crawled up to the enemy bunker and lobbed a grenade in it. This set ablaze fuel and ammunition in the bunker and the enemy started fleeing in confusion. During the counter-attack, he moved from trench to trench, unmindful of the heavy shelling, to encourage his men to hold their ground and repulse the attack. 

Throughout the action, Major Sahadevan displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.