Vir Chakra (VrC)

On the night of 13 December 1971, Major Lalit Mohan Bhatia, who was serving with a battalion of Rajput regiment, was given the task of capturing a Pakistani outpost in the Fazilka Sector. As he manoeuvred his company onto the objective, it came under crossfire of light and heavy automatic weapons. Undeterred, he led the charge, bayoneted two Pakistanis and silenced the light machine gun bunker. In a hand-to-hand fight he received fatal injuries due to enemy bayonets. His personal example inspired his company to press the attack capturing two enemy tanks and a large quantity of arms and ammunition, equipment and prisoners including two officers. 

In this action, Major Bhatia displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.