Param Vir Chakra (PVC)

Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey took part in a series of boldly led attacks during 'Operation Vijay', forcing back the intruders the heavy losses in Batalik including the capture of Jaubar Top. On the night of 2/3 July 1999 during the advance to Khalubar as his platoon approached its final objective, it came under intense enemy fire from the surrounding heights. Lieutenant Pandey was tasked to clear the interfering enemy positions, so as to prevent his battalion from getting daylighted, being in a vulnerable position. He quickly moved his platoon to an advantageous position under intense enemy fire, sent one section to clear the enemy positions from the right and himself proceeded to clear the enemy positions from the left. Fearlessly assaulting the first enemy position, he killed two enemy personnel and then destroyed the second position by killing two more. He was injured on the shoulder and legs while clearing the third position. Undaunted and without caring for his grevious injuries, he continued to lead the assault on the fourth position and destroyed the same with a grenade, even as he got a fatal MMG burst on his forehead. The singular daredevil act of Lieutenant Pandey provided the critical firm base for the companies, which finally led to capture of the Khalubar. The officer, however, succumbed to his injuries.