Vir Chakra (VrC)

Rifleman Siri Bahadur Thapa of 'C' Company displayed tremendous courage with utter disregard to his personal safety on 9 November 1987 while the Company was advancing from Chutumalai to Annaikoddai junction. The Company was pinned down 400 yards short ofthe Annaikoddai junction by devastating enemy automatic fire from three directions. It was daytime. The enemy was picking up the target and engaging accurately. The company's advance was halted and a further move would have been fatal because of the heavy and accurate HMG fire from the flank. He, realising the gravity of the situation, rushed at the enemy HMG position from a flank but fell down wounded by a burst from the HMG. Undeterred, bleeding profusely, he crawled forward for about 50 yards, lobbed a grenade on the enemy position and neutralise it before succumbing to the wound. HIS personal valour, even when fatally wounded and his devotion to duty motivated his company personnel to carry out the assigned task. The action of Rifleman Siri Bahadur Thapa was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Army.