Umang Bhardwaj
Umang Bhardwaj | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 March 1977 Gurgaon, Haryana, India |
| Died | 18 November 2002 (aged 25) Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Branch | Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1999–2002 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Service number | IC-59238[1] |
| Unit | 7 JAT |
| Awards | Shaurya Chakra |
Captain Umang Bhardwaj (24 March 1977 – 19 November 2002) was an officer in the Indian Army. He was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra, India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award, for his actions during an anti-infiltration operation in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002.[2][3][4][5]
Early life
Umang Bhardwaj was born on 24 March 1977 in Gadoli Khurd, Gurgaon district, Haryana. His father, Colonel (Retired) Kanwar Bhardwaj, was a Sena Medal awardee and a veteran of the Rajputana Rifles. Umang studied in Army Schools throughout his father’s postings and completed his senior secondary education at Army Public School, Delhi Cantt. He later graduated from Delhi University.[5]
Although he was selected for the National Defence Academy, his parents discouraged him from joining as his elder brother was already in service. After completing most of his MBA, he turned down a corporate job offer and opted instead to join the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He was commissioned into the Army Service Corps on 11 December 1999.[5]
Military career
Captain Umang Bhardwaj was attached to the 7th Battalion of the Jat Regiment. He served as the Ghatak Platoon Commander in D Company. His unit was deployed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch sector for counter-insurgency operations under Operation Rakshak.[5]
Operation Rakshak
On the night of 18 November 2002, during Operation Rakshak, Captain Bhardwaj's battalion received intelligence about a group of Harkat-ul Mujahideen militants attempting to infiltrate the Raja Gap area of the Mendhar sector, near the Line of Control. He was tasked with leading an ambush team to intercept them.[2][4]
At approximately 12:45 a.m., Captain Bhardwaj observed the militants approaching the ambush site. He held fire until they were within 10 metres, then shot and killed the lead militant at point-blank range. As another militant tried to escape down a nullah, Bhardwaj pursued him and killed him as well. During the engagement, he was hit by enemy gunfire and succumbed to his injuries while being evacuated to the battalion aid post.[2][4]
References
- ^ "Umang Bhardwaj,SC". Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "November 18, 2002: Remembering Shaurya Chakra Awardee Martyr Captain Umang Bhardwaj who laid down his life on this day but not before killing two terrorists in J&K's Poonch". www.jammukashmirnow.com. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Gallantry Awards | Ministry of Defence, Government of India". gallantryawards.gov.in. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ a b c "कैप्टन उमंग भारद्वाज को दी गई श्रद्धांजलि - Tributes paid to Captain Umang Bhardwaj on his sacrifice day - Haryana Gurgaon Local News". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Will surpass you in bravery, Capt Bhardwaj had told dad". The Tribune. Retrieved 5 May 2025.