Mahavir Chakra (MVC)

On 15 March 1948, Major Satyapal Chopra was commanding the left forward company during the advance on Jhangar. The hostiles lay strongly entrenched on Pir Thil Nakka, a formidable hill feature, with their bunker well camouflaged. They held their fire until Major Chopra's company and other company on the right were in the open space of ground nearly 200 yards away from their position. Both the companies came under heavy fire and were pinned to the ground. The enemy swept the area with four machine guns and six light automatics. Without caring for his personal safety, Major Chopra rushed forward with one platoon to an intermediate position from where he gave his troops covering fire. He was wounded in the face but he kept on fighting. He then turned to the evacuation of his wounded men who were lying on the exposed ground swept by enemy machine guns. He managed to remove three of his men but as he was trying to remove the fourth man, he was shot through the head and fell mortally wounded. He made the supreme sacrifice in order to save the lives of his comrades and displayed leadership qualities and devotion to duty of the highest order.