Shaheed Captain Batra had become a household name in India during the Kargil War. The young and jovial officer of the Indian Army, also code named as “Shershaah” during the Kargil War 1999 attained martyrdom while fighting for his motherland on July 7, 1999. Captain Batra laid down his life while fighting on point 4875. Later this peak was named ‘Batra Top’.
Capture of Point 5140:
Point 5140, about 1600 metres north of Tololing on the same ridgeline, is at an altitude of 16,962 feet above sea level and overlooks the Tololing nullah. It is the highest point on the Tololing ridgeline and the most formidable feature in the Dras sub-sector. On June 17, the task of capturing Point 5140 was assigned to 13 JAK RIF under the command of now Lt. Col. Yogesh Kumar Joshi (Retired as Lt Gen on Jan 31, 2022). The Commanding officer decided to attack Point 5140 with B Coy, under the command of Lt. Sanjeev Singh Jamwal, and D Coy, under the command of Vikram Batra, from two sides; east and south.
During the assault, Captain Batra killed three enemy soldiers single-handedly in close combat. Eight enemy soldiers were Killed in the attack by D Coy. The young officer gave his success signal “Yeh Dil Mange More!” at 0345 hours. It was after the capture of Point 5140, Batra was promoted to the rank of captain.
The next task for the 13 J&K Rifles was to capture Point 4875. The capture of this point completely turned the tide of the war into India’s favour.
Importance of Point 4875
After securing victory at Point 5140, the 13 JAK Rifles, led by Lt Col Y.K. Joshi, were tasked with capturing Point 4875 in the Mushkoh Valley—a peak of immense strategic value. Dominating a 30–40 km stretch of National Highway 1D between Dras and Matayan, Point 4875 offered a clear line of sight to Pakistani artillery observers, allowing them to target Indian gun positions, camps, and troop movements with deadly accuracy. Securing this feature became critical to restoring Indian control and halting enemy firepower.
How the Indian Army Took Back Point 4875
On July 1, 1999, reconnaissance missions were conducted by Major S. Vijay Bhaskar and Lt Col Joshi to devise an attack strategy. The following day, senior commanders including Maj Gen Mohinder Puri and Brig Rajesh Kumar Kakkar met at brigade HQ to finalise the assault plan. Three regiments were reportedly deployed for the attack on Point 4875. These three regiments were – 17 Jat, 13 JAK Rif and 2 Naga.
The fierceness of the battle at Point 4875 complex can be seen from the fact that two Param Vir Chakras (Rifleman Sanjay Kumar & Captain Vikram Batra from 13 JAK Rif) and two Mahavir Chakras (Captain Anuj Nayyar from 17 Jat and Sepoy Imliakum Ao from 2 Naga) were awarded. Meanwhile, several other gallantry awards were also given to the soldiers who fought on Point 4875.
A firebase was set up roughly 1500 meters from the objective. From July 2–3, ammunition and heavy weapons were moved into position. On July 4, final reconnaissance by Company commanders Major S.V. Bhaskar and Major Gurpreet Singh preceded a full-scale artillery bombardment beginning at 1800 hours, continuing throughout the night. Under this cover, ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies began their ascent at 2030 hours.
The assault was met with heavy resistance. Machine-gun nests and sniper fire slowed the advance, and by dawn, troops remained 50 meters short of their target. Pakistani fire effectively pinned the Indian forces. At 1015 hours on July 5, after receiving reports from the front, Lt Col Joshi personally fired two Fagot missiles that neutralized a key enemy bunker, breaking the deadlock. With momentum regained, Major Gurpreet Singh led an assault that successfully captured Point 4875 by 1300 hours.
Despite this victory, heavy fire from nearby enemy positions—especially from “Pimple 2” and north of Point 4875—continued. On the night of July 5–6, Pakistani forces launched a fierce counterattack, especially targeting the adjacent Area Flat Top, which was also part of their defenses.
How Captain Vikram Batra Achieved Martyrdom On Area Flat Top
During the counteroffensive, Captain Naveen Nagappa was defending Area Flat Top with a small force when he was gravely injured by a shell blast. Seeing the critical situation, Capt Vikram Batra, though sick and originally excused from combat, volunteered for the mission. Despite initial hesitation from his commanding officer, Captain Batra was deployed due to the urgent need for reinforcement.
Forming a team of volunteers, Captain Batra led the newly designated Delta Company in a nighttime assault on July 6–7. The terrain and darkness made the mission extremely dangerous. As Indian forces closed in, they faced intense fire from enemy sangars (stone fortifications) lined along a narrow ledge north of Point 4875.
Captain Batra neutralised a Pakistani machine-gun post with a grenade and pushed forward under heavy fire. By first light, he and his team knocked out two more enemy positions. At 0530 hours, after a reconnaissance with Subedar Raghunath Singh and Major Bhat, Captain Batra decided on a direct daylight assault.
With covering fire from his men, he charged a fortified enemy sangar, killing five soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. This allowed Indian troops to secure the ledge. He then pulled the wounded Capt Nagappa to safety. However, a final machine-gun nest still posed a threat. Charging again, Captain Batra killed all four occupants of the nest.
During the operation, while rescuing an injured soldier, Captain Batra was fatally shot in the chest by a sniper and hit in the head by a rocket-propelled grenade splinter. His heroic actions were instrumental in securing Area Flat Top and turning the tide of the battle for Point 4875.
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