Vir Chakra (VrC)

Havildar Bhim Bahadur Thapa, a section commander of 7 Platoon Charlie Company, First Battalion of the First Gorkha Rifles, was in ambush in area Kontakkaran Kulam (Sri Lanka) on the night of the 20 June 1989. At about 0530 hours on the 21st June 1989, he observed the movement of 15-20 militants west of his location. He immediately informed his platoon commander Subedar Shiv Darshan Singh Gurung, who in turn alerted his entire platoon. Due to the rattling of a Light Machine Gun while being adjusted, the militants got suspicious, and started firing indiscriminately. Company Commander Major S. K. Mehta reached there and assessing the situation, he with Platoon Commander, Havildar Bhim Bahadur Thapa and Rifleman Ganga Bahadur Ghale moved to a flank and launched assault on the militants.

Havildar Bhim Bahadur Thapa got a burst of bullets in the chest, and started bleeding profusely, but he continued fighting the militants and killed two of them. He displayed a high sense of responsibility and valour in combat, and died at his post fighting.