Ashoka Chakra Awardee Major Dinesh Raghu Raman and his act of Gallantry
Major Dinesh Raghu Raman has been awarded posthumously with the country’s highest peacetime Gallantry Award Ashok Chakra on the eve of Republic Day. The President Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil will confer the Award at the Republic Day Celebrations at Rajpath on Saturday, where three others – Captain Harshan R of 2 Parachute Regiment, Special Forces (Posthumous), Naib Subedar Chunni Lal, VrC, SM of 8 J&K Light Infantry (Posthumous) and Colonel Vasanth Venugopal of 9 Maratha Light Infantry (Posthumous), who were awarded Ashoka Chakra on the eve of Independence Day, last year, will also be honoured.
Born to Shri SK Murthy and Smt Mala on Apr 06, 1978, Major Dinesh Raghu Raman (IC-59263W) did his schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya, INA Colony, New Delhi and joined National Defence Academy in 1996. After passing out from NDA, he was commissioned into 19th Battalion of the JAT Regiment.
During his short and illustrious career, Major Dinesh Raghu Raman served in various appointments and was awarded Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card in Drass during Operation Parakram.
Major Dinesh Raghu Raman was posted to 34 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion (JAT) on 22 Feb 2006. In recognition of his leadership qualities and professional competence he was given command of ‘C’ Company at Aripanthan and had already conducted a very successful operation “OP Narawar” in June 07 culminating in elimination of 3 hardcore terrorists in his AOR.
On 02 October 2007, at 0820 hrs Major Dinesh Raghu Raman deployed his company in a village in Baramulla district of Jammu & Kashmir where an encounter with terrorists had commenced. At 0855 hrs, while closing in on suspected houses, Major Raman heard shouts of a fellow officer who had been seriously injured. Displaying camaraderie and esprit-de-corps of the highest order he crawled towards him under heavy hostile fire. He extricated him and two other injured soldiers to safety. He then took on two terrorist who had caused heavy casualties to the troops and in a fierce close quarter battle shot both of them dead. The other terrorists now fired on Major Raman from another house. In the ensuing firefight, Major Raman was seriously injured. Undeterred, he continued leading and motivating his troops and pinned down the terrorists till he fell unconscious. He later succumbed to his injuries.
Major Raman displayed most conspicuous bravery besides camaraderie and leadership of the highest order and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.
SK/Samir/raj
(Release ID :34895)