Vir Chakra (VrC)

On 4 March 1948, 4 Kumaon sent a fighting patrol to Nikhaura. Naik Karam Singh was a section commander protecting the left flank of the patrol. The patrol encountered the enemy dug in trenches and bunkers. The enemy was also occupying two houses just behind the hilltop. As the battle developed, the enemy engaged the patrol both from the entrenched positions as well from these houses. In order to destroy the enemy it was most vital that the forces firing from within the houses be silenced.

While the remaining of the two sections engaged the enemy in the open and the trenches, Naik Karam Singh went to clear the houses with this section. Keeping the Bren group on the ground to cover his advance, he closed in with his assault group, and cleared both these housed using grenades and bayonets. His group of four men alone was responsible for killing at least eight of the enemy and wounding four. Still in the enemy fire from all the sides, he searched the houses and brought back some enemy bayonets and Bren magazines. Having completed his task, he set both the houses on fire and brought back the whole of his section to join the remainder of the platoon without a single casualty.

Naik Karam Singh's bold and determined action was a great asset to the platoon in capturing and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.