Vir Chakra (VrC)

On 18 October 1987, 5 Rajputana Rifles was tasked to link up with 1 Maratha Light Infantry in Jaffna Fort. When the force reached the final stages of link-up, the militants opened up heavy machine guns and light machine guns halting the advance. One company leading the advance took position and returned fire. There was no let up in militants fire. The time was running out and ammunition running low. Major Ratnesh Kumar Chaturvedi knowing that there was no way out except to charge the enemy heavy machine gun position, personally led his company's assault on the militants' gun position. While charging, he got a burst on his chest.

Unmindful of the bleeding and his personal safety, Major Chaturvedi continued moving towards the militants' heavy machine gun post and kept on coaxing his men to rush to the militants' location. The militants ran for their life vacating the post. The company kept firing at the fleeing militants killing six, two of them by Major Chaturvedi. Despite severe injuries, he refused to be evacuated. However due to serious nature of injuries and loss of blood, he lost consciousness and succumbed to his injuries. The companies ultimately completed task of linkup with 1 Maratha Light Infantry in time.

Major Ratnesh Kumar Chaturvedi, thus, displayed conspicuous courage and valiant leadership in the face of the militants.