Vir Chakra (VrC)

Major Mukhtar Singh Khaira was in command of a reconnaissance patrol party on the cease-fire line in Jammu and Kashmir. On 13 December 1964 night, after negotiating a cliff, the patrol came upon a light machine gun position of the enemy, With complete disregard for his personal safety, Major Khaira, with one of his men, crawled closer and threw two hand grenades onto the gun. Almost simultaneously the machine gun fired three long bursts towards the patrol party. Then the grenades exploded, and the machine gun stopped firing. Major Khaira and his companion, firing their Sten guns, rushed forward looking for the Pakistani LMG. Six or seven Pakistani soldiers opened Sten gun and rifle fire on them. Undeterred by the numerical superiority of the enemy, Major Khaira and his companion threw two more grenades and fired at the Pakistani troops. The patrol captured the Palastan1 LMG and withdrew. Throughout the operation, Major Khaira displayed courage and leadership in the best traditions of the Army.