Captain Vijayant Thapar was commanding the leading platoon of Alfa Company which was tasked to assault area Knoll in Drass sector. While advancing, the platoon was hit by an accurate enemy artillery barrage and it suffered heavy causalities. Displaying remarkable cool and courage, Captain Vijayant Thapar organized the evacuation of the causalities and quickly rallied his shell-shocked platoon for the attack. Personally leading the attack from the Northern face against enemy’s medium machine gun fire which was holding up to company’s assault he fearlessly charged at the enemy position firing from the hip and throwing grenades and shouting the war cry of the battalion.
During this act, Captain Vijayant Thapar was grievously injured in the hand and stomach but continued to advance ordering his men to follow him. Roused by the action of their young platoon commander, barely out of the Academy, the platoon charged up the hill against the dominating enemy position. This audacious action unnerved the enemy and that forced him to abandon a tactically superior position. He, however, succumbed to his injuries. Captain Vijayant Thapar displayed exemplary valour in the presence of the enemy and made the supreme sacrifice for the capture of area Knoll and was awarded posthumously the Vir Chakra.
Battle of Tololing, Knoll and Three Pimples: June 1999
On 11 June 1999, Capt Vijayant’s battalion under the command of Col M.B. Ravindernath, was tasked to capture the feature Tololing. After the initial assault by Major Mohit Saxena was held up, on the night of 12th June’99, Capt Vijayant Thapar led his platoon to capture a Pakistani position called Bar bag Bunker which proved crucial for the onward battle for Tololing. He killed two soldiers in close combat but was disappointed that he couldn’t capture them alive. Tololing was the first victory for Indian army on 13th June 1999 and was the turning point in the war. Later on 28 June, 2 Raj Rif was given the task of capturing Three Pimples, Knoll and Lone Hill area. The attack started with Capt Vijayant’s platoon leading on a full moon night along a razor sharp ridge with no cover to offer. There were intense and accurate artillery shelling and heavy enemy fire. He lost some of his dear men and some more were injured causing the attack to be disrupted. However, with his indomitable spirit and strong determination, he moved ahead along with his troops through a ravine to face the enemy. It was a full moon night and was a very difficult position to capture. The troops of enemy’s 6 Northern Light Infantry had all the advantages. At 8PM the attack commenced when 120 guns opened fire and rockets lit up the sky. In this heavy exchange of fire 2 Raj Rif moved with Capt Vijayant Thapar leading the attack. Among the first to fall in this battle was Sep Jagmal Singh, Capt Vijayant’s very dear orderly. Finally, Capt Vijayant’s company secured a foothold on Knoll. By this time his company commander Major P. Achrya had been killed. Enraged at this news, Capt Vijayant surged ahead with his comrade Naik Tilak Singh. Both of them started engaging the enemy merely 15 mts. away. There were two enemy machine guns firing towards them. After about an hour and a half of fierce exchange of fire Capt Vijayant realized that the enemy machine guns had to be silenced to continue their advance towards their objective.
Capt Vijayant in a daring move surged ahead to do that but was hit by a burst of fire that struck him on his head. He fell in the arms of his comrade Naik Tilak Singh. Capt Vijayant was martyred but motivated by his daredevilry and leadership, his troops later charged at the enemy and fully captured Knoll. The victory at Knoll on 29 June 1999, is a saga of unmatched bravery, grit and determination. Capt Vijayant Thapar was awarded, “Vir Chakra” for his gallantry, unyielding fighting spirit and supreme sacrifice. Capt Vijayant Thapar is survived by his father, an Army veteran Col V N Thapar, mother Tripta and brother Vijender Thapar.
