Captain Vikram Batra PVC (September 9, 1974 — July 7, 1999) was a Brave officer of the Indian Army, posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest award for valour, for his actions during the 1999 Kargil War.
Captain Vikram Batra was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honor on 15 August 1999, the 52nd anniversary of India’s independence. His father Mr. G.L. Batra received the honor for his deceased son from the President of India, the late K.R. Narayanan.
Captain Vikram Batra, 13 JAK Rifles, and his Delta Company was given the task of recapturing Point 5140. Nicknamed Sher Shah (‘Lion King’ in Hindi) for his unstinting courage, he decided to lead the rear, as an element of surprise would help stupefy the enemy.
He and his men ascended the sheer rock-cliff, but as the group neared the top, the enemy pinned them on the face of the bare cliff with machine gun fire. Captain Batra, along with five of his men, climbed up regardless and after reaching the top, hurled two grenades at the machine gun post.
He single-handedly killed three enemy soldiers in close combat. He was seriously injured during this, but insisted on regrouping his men to continue with the mission.
Inspired by the courage displayed by Captain Batra, the soldiers of 13 JAK Rifles charged the enemy position and captured Point 5140 at 3:30 a.m. on 20 June 1999. His company is credited with killing at least eight Pakistani soldiers and recovering a heavy machine gun.