1 BIHAR · OP VIJAY · 19991 BIHAR
Vir Chakra · Operation Vijay · Batalik Sector

MAJ K.P.R.
HARI

Rank held on 06 July 1999  ·  later Colonel

On 6 July 1999, he led D Coy of 1 Bihar, in an attack on an enemy stronghold at the height of 16,800 feet called Jubar Top — and in the early hours of 7 July 1999, the enemy post was captured.

Major K.P.R. Hari in uniform, wearing the ribbon of the Vir Chakra
COL K.P.R. HARI, VrC1 BIHAR
OBJECTIVE
Jubar Top, Batalik Sub-Sector, J&K
ELEVATION
16,800 ft
UNIT
1 Bihar, 70 Infantry Brigade
DATE OF ACTION
06 July 1999
DECORATION
Vir Chakra
FINAL RANK
Colonel (Retd)
The Citation

Gazette of India, 1999

The official citation for the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award, as published on the award of the decoration to Major K.P.R. Hari, 1 Bihar.

VIR CHAKRA
Citation · Award of the Vir Chakra

Major K.P.R. Hari

1 BIHAR  ·  Operation Vijay, Kargil

On 06 July 1999, Major K.P.R. Hari attacked Jubar Top, an enemy stronghold at a height of 16,800 feet in the Batalik Sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Major K.P.R. Hari launched a two-pronged attack under heavy enemy artillery and small arms fire. He crawled through the boulders over a steep cliff leading towards Jubar Top, avoiding enemy fire. He reached 50 metres short of the enemy sangar and, in a swift and bold manoeuvre, closed in with the enemy along with six men, continuously firing and lobbing grenades.

Major K.P.R. Hari, with utter disregard for his personal safety, destroyed the Heavy Machine Gun bunker and killed two Pakistanis who were engaging the advancing troops. The enemy, sensing immediate danger, withdrew, leaving behind a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and equipment, and the post was captured at 0200 hours without any casualty. Major Hari then, along with Major V.K. Rai, kept up the momentum of the attack and captured Jubar Main by 0600 hours.

Major K.P.R. Hari displayed initiative, bold action, indomitable courage, strong determination and exceptional leadership in the face of extreme danger from the enemy.

AWARD: VIR CHAKRA OPERATION: VIJAY — KARGIL SECTOR: BATALIK

The citation records the rank held on the date of the action. Major Hari was subsequently promoted through the ranks and retired as a Colonel — see The Officer for his fuller career.

"The post was captured at 0200 hours without any casualty." — citation, as reproduced by his Commanding Officer, on the taking of Jubar Top

Behind that one line sits weeks of failed attempts, contradictory orders, and men climbing bare rock under fire. The full account of the approach to Jubar Top — the terrain, the enemy, the uncertainty from higher headquarters, and the mindset that carried a company commander up that cliff — is laid out dispatch by dispatch on the next page.

Read the Battle Dispatches →