24 Facts About Captain Vikram Batra

1. Captain Vikram Batra is honoured with several landmarks being named after him: The historic capture of point 4875 led to the mountain being named 'Batra top' in his honour.

2. 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.

3. Captain Vikram Batra's daring assault enabled the completion of the capture of Pt 4875 and this broke the will of the enemy.

4. Captain Vikram Batra had a small force but he fought ferociously to beat back the offensive.

5. Captain Vikram Batra's commanding officer had ordered him to rest even though his battalion, 13 JAK Rifles, had launched its attack on the Point 4875.

6. Captain Vikram Batra was lying in a sleeping bag in a tent on the rocky ground near the Mushkoh nullah, and was down with fever and fatigue.

7. Captain Vikram Batra continued to lead his troops, and then charged at the next enemy position, capturing Point 5140.

8. Captain Vikram Batra was seriously injured in the process, but insisted on regrouping his men to continue with the mission.

9. Captain Vikram Batra fired three rockets towards the bunkers on the east side of the feature, before attacking them.

10. Captain Vikram Batra decided to approach the hill from the rear, aiming to surprise the enemy, and to cut off their withdrawal route.

11. Captain Vikram Batra would call his parents at least once in ten days.

12. Captain Vikram Batra informed his parents about his movement and assured them that they need not worry about him.

13. In January 1999, Captain Vikram Batra was sent on a Commando Course at Belgaum, Karnataka where he excelled.

14. Captain Vikram Batra was commissioned into the 13th battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles.

15. Captain Vikram Batra was selected and underwent a 40-day paratrooping training with his NCC Air Wing unit at Pinjore Airfield and Flying Club, about 35 kilometres away from Chandigarh.

16. Captain Vikram Batra was a green belt holder in Karate and went on to attend a national level camp in Manali.

17. Captain Vikram Batra excelled at many sports and represented his school and college in table tennis, Karate and other such games.

18. Besides being brilliant at studies, Captain Vikram Batra was a keen sportsman and represented his school at the national level during the Youth Parliamentary competitions at Delhi.

19. Captain Vikram Batra got his primary education from his mother, who herself was a teacher.

20. Captain Vikram Batra had two sisters: Seema and Nutan.

21. Captain Vikram Batra was the elder of twin sons, and was born fourteen minutes before his brother, named Vishal.

22. Captain Vikram Batra was the third child of Girdhari Lal Batra, a government school principal, and Kamal Kanta Batra, a school teacher.

23. Captain Vikram Batra was born on 9 September 1974, in a small town in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India.

24. Captain Vikram Batra led one of the toughest operations in mountain warfare in Indian history.