New Delhi, Jul 4: Just four months into his service, a young Lieutenant Balwan Singh led the Indian Army’s Ghatak Platoon in a crucial assault on Pakistani intruders during the Kargil war, capturing Tiger Hill on July 4, 1999. “There was no looking back from there. It was victory after the capture of Tiger Hill,” recalls Singh, now a Colonel with the renowned 18 Grenadiers, who was injured during the battle but continued to fight. He was honored with the Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery.
Raised in 1976, the 18 Grenadiers played a pivotal role in the war. The battalion received 52 honors, including a Param Vir Chakra, two Maha Vir Chakras, six Vir Chakras, several Sena Medals, and a Commendation Card from the Chief of the Army Staff. On Wednesday, Col Singh and other Kargil heroes from the battalion reminisced about the valor displayed during Operation Vijay.
The war concluded on July 26, 1999, after Indian forces successfully pushed back Pakistani troops who had covertly occupied strategic heights in Ladakh. On the night of July 3, 1999, soldiers of the 18 Grenadiers, also known as the Pole Star Battalion, launched their mission to capture Tiger Hill, accomplishing the task by the next morning, said Brigadier (retired) Khushal Thakur, who commanded the battalion during the decisive battles of Tololing and Tiger Hill.
“On June 12-13, 1999, we won Tololing, a significant turning point in the war. It boosted the morale of our armed forces and countrymen while demoralizing the Pakistani side. We continued capturing peaks in the Mushkow or Batalik sector, with Tiger Hill being the next target,” Brig (retd) Thakur, who was a Colonel during the war, told PTI.
“For Tiger Hill, I had ample time for reconnaissance. We had artillery guns, multi-barrel rocket launchers, and high-altitude warfare equipment. Despite all the losses, the morale of the 18 Grenadiers was sky high, and our brave men captured Tiger Hill, planting the Indian flag on top,” he said.
Although there were few TV channels at the time, images of Indian soldiers celebrating the conquest of Tiger Hill became a symbol of their bravery. Col Singh emphasized the decisiveness of the battles of Tololing and Tiger Hill. “Initially, we captured Tololing, which is very close to NH-1 Alpha (National Highway-1A). Tiger Hill, also strategically important, offers visibility over an 8-10 km stretch of NH-1 Alpha,” he said.
“They (intruders) had various weapons, including automatics, anti-aircraft guns, and missiles on Tololing and Tiger Hill, making these locations critical to capture,” he added.
The Indian Army will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Kargil victory on July 26, with numerous programs leading up to the main event in Kargil later this month. Col Sachin Annarao Nimbalkar, who was 23 years old and serving with the 18 Grenadiers as a captain during the conflict, was among the soldiers honored with a Sena Medal for their bravery during the war. “We fought with our backs to the wall, and every inch we captured was a hard-fought victory,” Col Nimbalkar said.
Reflecting on the sacrifices, Col Nimbalkar stated, “For my unit, 18 Grenadiers, we lost two officers, two JCOs, and 30 other ranks, with many more injured and some disabled for life.” Proudly displaying the regimental insignia bearing the motto ‘Sarvada Shaktishali’ on his military cap, he explained its origin and significance.
“We are celebrating the 25th year of Kargil Vijay Diwas. I remember our success, our casualties, and Lt Col Viswanathan, who sacrificed his life during the battle of Tololing,” he said. Col Nimbalkar paid homage to his Indian Military Academy (IMA) coursemate Capt Manoj Pandey, a hero of the Tiger Hill battle, on his death anniversary at the memorial. “There are mixed emotions— a sense of achievement, but at a great cost. Today, we collectively acknowledge the efforts and sacrifices of our heroes,” he concluded.
