He took 12 bullets from militants, but gunned down three and made sure the rest retreated to PoK
ANIL RAINA (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 15, 2009)
AHMEDABAD: Major Rushikesh Ramani died a death so gallant, it still swells the chests of the 23 Punjab Regiment officers. Mirror spoke to those who fought alongside the 25-year-old Major, who attained martyrdom on June 7, after fighting insurgents in Kashmir non-stop over two days.
The 23 Punjab Regiment was put on high alert following information that a large group of militants will be entering India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
A quick-reaction team of 29 (four junior commanding officers and 25 jawans) was formed to counter insurgency, with Major Ramani as its in-charge. An ambush was laid under his supervision along the border, and on June 5, the action began after five militants were sighted. The soldiers battled the militants for two full days. They survived on dry fruits and chocolates, without a minute of sleep between June 5 and 7.
But sometime in the afternoon of June 7, it rained in the area. Soldiers found it difficult to maintain their foothold and Major Ramani lost his footing and slipped. He fell just two meters away from the militants. But even in the face of death, he picked up his AK 47and continued firing at the militants. He took 12 bullets, but killed three militants.
COURAGE UNDER FIRE
Said an officer who was part of the ambush, “The moment our Major landed in the middle of the militants, he began firing at them. That act left the militants stunned. They didn’t expect courage of this level. The brave soldier took as many as 12 bullets — three in head, and the rest on the chest and stomach — but before that, he killed three militants.”
Completely shaken at Major Ramani’s courage and the death of three colleagues, the two remaining militants beat a retreat to PoK.
Major Ramani’s seniors bemoan the loss of a fine officer while his friends remember him as someone who provided them their daily dose of laughter in stressful situations.
‘HE DESERVES ASHOK CHAKRA’
The East Zone Youth Organisation in Ahmedabadhas launched a signature campaign, asking the government to bestow Ashok Chakra on Major Rushikesh Ramani. Said Colonel Hasmukh Patel, a family friend, “He is an example of selfless service to the nation. Nobody deserves the Ashok Chakra more than him.”
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The above mentioned article appeared last week in Mirror newspaper in one of its inside pages. This is news which deserved to be read by each and everyone and undoubtedly deserved to be published on the front page of every newspaper. But unfortunately, barring Mirror newspaper, I don’t think any other daily published this story. Even The Times of India didn’t publish anything about Major Rushikesh. Shameful, isn’t it?
