Vir Chakra (VrC)

On 21 April 1988, Captain Ravinder Singh Chopra volunteered to accompany his Commanding Officer to intercept the militants at Urithirapuram in Sri Lanka. As they and their two platoons neared the target area, they were fired upon by the militants. In order to cover the move of his column, as also to pre-empt any attempt by the militants to escape, Captain Chopra along with his party manoeuvred to a flank in the face of intense automatic fire. He spotted a militant firing at the troops and with an accurate aim he shot the militant dead.

At this moment, the Commanding Officer was hit and collapsed. Captain Chopra rushed to the help of his Commanding Officer and in the process was himself hit by three or four bullets in his thighs, a graze across the chin and also a direct hit on his right hand, which shattered his right thumb and detached it from the hand. He also sustained two punctures on the front portion of his chest. Despite these injuries, he continued to fire from his own weapon and to pass orders to the platoon commanders directing their fire and movement. The militants eventually broke off action and withdrew. Captain Ravinder Singh Chopra reorganised his platoons and returned to base, from where he was evacuated to hospital.

Captain Ravinder Singh Chopra, thus displayed conspicuous courage and valour in action against the militants.