Vir Chakra (VrC)

Havildar Tilak Raj of Alfa Company, 6 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, was the Heavy Machine Gun Detachment Commander of Dalunangon the Line of Actual Control. At about 1850 hours on 7 May 1992, the Pakistanis opened heavy and accurate fire, on the company with air defence guns, rocket-propelled guns, heavy machine guns and browning machine guns. Pakistanis fired from rocket launcher on our medium machine gun bunker, resulting in the collapse of a corner of the bunker. Havildar Tilak Raj realised that the next hit of rocket would result in total destruction of the bunker and the loss of the crew inside. Without wasting any time, he opened the loophole of his gun and started engaging the Pakistanis rocket launcher effectively. Seeing the effective fire ofthe gun, the Pakistanis started firing at Havildar Tilak Raj's bunker.

Undeterred by the bullets of Pak soldiers and in utter disregard of his personal safety, Havildar Tilak Raj continued to engage the Pakistanis and forced them to call off the rocket launcher fire. He was hit by a Pakistani bullet in his left eye. Even after the serious injury, when he was profusely bleeding he continued to bring down effective heavy machine gun fire on the adversary, till he succumbed to his injuries. His gallant act forced the Pakistanis to stop firing. By sacrificing his life, Havildar Tilak Raj not only saved the lives of his three comrades in the heavy machine gun bunker, but also prevented destruction of the defence works, weapons and equipment.

Havildar Tilak Raj displayed exceptional courage and gallantry in the face of the enemy before he died.