Vir Chakra (VrC)

When on the morning of 10 May 1948, one of our forward picquets was attacked by the enemy, a platoon from another picquet under the command of Jemadar Basanta Ram was rushed to its help. In the darkness that then prevailed, Jemadar Basanta Ram covered the distance in a very short time and at dawn found himself and his platoon surrounded by enemy platoons on two sides. Finding himself in a fix, he opened an attack, took a Bren gun from one of his men and fired from the hip. This demoralised the enemy so much that his assault line broke up and he fled without giving fight. Jemadar Basanta Ram then turned towards the other enemy platoon in his rear and chased it till he was ordered to return. In this action he showed great initiative, leadership and the quality to take a quick decision at a crucial moment.