Vir Chakra (VrC)

On 20 October 1962, when a battalion was ordered to withdraw from the Nyamka Chu Valley in NEFA, 2nd Lieutenant Naveen Chander Kohli stayed behind as officer commanding the rear parties to cover the withdrawal. The Chinese, seeing the withdrawal of the unit, intensified their shelling and assaulted the position. But under the able leadership of 2nd Lieutenant Kohli, the rear parties foiled the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on them. During this attack, Lieutenant Kohli went from bunker to bunker encouraging his men, inspiring confidence and giving first aid to the wounded.

At one bunker, where a gunner had been wounded seriously, he himself manned the gun. It was only after the battalion had reasonable time to pull out and the enemy pressure against this position had increased tremendously by a second wave of assaulting troops, that he withdrew. He was one of the last to leave the post and exercised his command so skillfully that he managed to take out his entire force, including the wounded, and join the main battalion.

2nd Lieutenant Kohli showed commendable courage and exemplary devotion to duty in this operation.