Vir Chakra (VrC)

On 13 April 1948, Subedar Gopal Ram was in command of a patty, which was ordered to lay an ambush at village Kulia near the Indo-Pakistan border. The platoon was in position by 0300 hrs. At 0930 hrs 30 armed civilians with about 30 men in uniform crossed the border. The military personnel took up covering position and civilians went inside the territory to cut crops. Subedar Gopal Ram held fire till both the parties were well within the Union Territory. He then launched a simultaneous attack on both the parties and killed ten of them.

The advance section rushed forward to collect arms and casualties. The enemy opened fire and made the evacuation difficult. In the hand-to-hand fight when his forward section commander was hit on the head, Subedar Gopal Ram went in with his bayonet and secured him.

The enemy had been reinforced and tried to surround them. Subedar Gopal Ram brought his own casualty and also a prisoner all by himself through 200 yards of bullet swept terrain.

Throughout this operation, Subedar Gopal Ram displayed tremendous personal courage, drive and determination. With complete disregard for personal safety, he saved the life of one of his men.