Karnail Singh
Karnail Singh (Subedar) (04.04.1962 - 06.07.1999) - Vir Chakra. He comes from village Raniwala (रानीवाला) in district Amritsar, Punjab. He was in Unit-8 Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army. He became martyr during operation Vijay in Kargil War on 06.07.1999.
Operation Vijay
Lt Kanad Bhattacharya, Sena Medal, Subedar Nirmal Singh, Vir Chakra, Subedar Joginder Singh, Sena Medal, Nb Subedar Karnail Singh, Vir Chakra, Nb Subedar Ravail Singh, Sena Medal and 30 other ranks of 8 SIKH made supreme sacrifice while throwing the enemy from this strategically important features on the Western spur of Tiger Hill and later successfully defending it against fierce counter attack by the enemy during the Operation Vijay in the year 1999.
The Incidence
On 04th July, the unit was tasked to gain a foothold on the Western Spur of Tiger Hill with a view to cut off Top, and provide firm base for its subsequent capture. Western Spur extends approximately 1.5 to 02 km in length comprising of features Rhino Horn, Rocky Knob, Helmet and India Gate. The feature was heavily held by the enemy and was totally dominated by Tiger Hill Top, Trig Height and Charlie Feature. The approach was steep with gradient of 75 to 80 degrees. It was under total enemy domination. It was not only a very formidable objective to capture, but even more difficult to hold with limited space available, and enemy occupying the heights on both sides. The plan was to capture the "India Gate" and "Helmet" through Western approach with surprise as the vital ingredient.
Accordingly on night 04/05 July, the company under Major Ravindra Singh traversed the difficult terrain amidst enemy shelling and automatic fire to the base of the objective. An extremely bad weather, fog and rains came as a boon.
The company negotiated the steep slopes undetected with mountaineering skills. The company established firebase behind a rock approximately 200 m away from the objective. Three teams under three JCOs, namely Sub Nirmal Singh, Nb Sub Karnail singh and Nb Sub Ravail Singh under overall coordination of Lieutenant RK Seharawat probed towards the objective. The enemy was totally surprised with sudden assault of SIKHS on "India Gate" and "Helmet". Enemy opened up with two automatics. SIKHS retaliated with RL fire and forced the enemy to flee. India Gate and Helmet were captured at 0400 hrs on 05 July and tiger Hill Top was completely cut off. However due to heavy enemy fire, fire base personnel were able to reach the objective with MMGs and AGL only after last light at 2000 h. Braves of 8 Sikh cut off enemy telephone communication towards the Top. One Company took defiance on the objective in an area of approximately amidst enemy fire from three directions.
In fact, two major attacks were repulsed in which Major Iqbal of SSG and Capt Kamal Sher of 12 NLI were killed along with 30 others. Three JCOs - Sub Nirmal Singh and Karnail Singh and Naib Subedar Rawail Singh - and 18 ORs made the supreme sacrifice. The wounded included Major Ravinder Singh and Lieutenant Sherawat besides 18 ORs. The capture and defence of the Western Spur facilitated the capture of Tiger Hill top on July 7.
Enemy was desperate to keep the western route of maintenance open for survival at Tiger Hill Top, and mustered all its resources to recapture it. Heavy artillery shelling, RPG fire along with incessant automatic fire punded on SIKHS on 06 July. Enemy launched counterattack at 0615 h initially with about 20 personnel from Rocky Knob. Heavy and accurate fire from own troops dissipated the assault. It was followed by a desperate and fierce counterattack by about 40 to 45 personnel at approximately 0700 h from two different directions. The gallant Sikhs held on to the objective and repulsed the two counterattacks by 0930 hrs inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. The enemy suffered more than 30 killed including two officers. The left behind the dead bodies of there soldiers including officers, and fled. A large number of weapons radio sets and documents were recovered from the dead bodies. The documents revealed the Major Iqbal of SSG and Captain karnail Sher of 12 NI.I were leading the counterattack and were killed. It also established that SSG men were also included in the counter attack. However, during this epic battle, three JCOs and 14 OR of 8 SIKH made the supreme sacrifice fighting the enemy. Two officers and 18 OR were wounded. It was their resolute defiance of all odds. Exceptional devotion to these gallant actions and the great sacrifices of the Khalsas paved the way for subsequent capture of Tiger Hill Top on 07 July. It was indeed the saga of valour and sacrifices in the glorious tradition of Saragarhi.
For the gallant action for capture of India Gate and Helmet and later defence of the same against fierce enemy counter attacks the unit was awarded with Instant Unit Citation by the Chief of the Army Staff, a unique citation by the Punjab Government, three Vir Chakras, eleven Sena Medals, twelve Mention-in Despatchs, four Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards and seven GOC-in-C (Northern Command) Commendation Cards.
नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह
नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह 04-04-1962 - 06-07-1999
वीर चक्र (मरणोपरांत)
वीरांगना - श्रीमती रंजीत कौर
यूनिट - 8 सिख रेजिमेंट
टाइगर हिल की लड़ाई
ऑपरेशन विजय
कारगिल युद्ध 1999
नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह का जन्म 4 अप्रैल 1962 को पंजाब के अमृतसर (वर्तमान तरनतारन) जिले की खडूर साहिब तहसील के रानीवाला गांव में हुआ था। वह भारतीय सेना की सिख रेजिमेंट में सिपाही के पद पर भर्ती हुए थे। प्रशिक्षण के पश्चात उन्हें 8 सिख बटालियन में नियुक्त किया गया था। वर्ष 1999 तक वह नायब सूबेदार के पद पर पदोन्नत हो गए थे।
ऑपरेशन विजय में, 5 जुलाई 1999 की भोर में 4:00 बजे, 8 सिख ने टाइगर हिल के पश्चिमी स्कंध पर इंडिया गेट और हेलमेट पर कब्जा कर लिया और इससे टाइगर हिल टॉप पूरी तरह से कट गया। नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह पांच जवानों के साथ हेलमेट में पिछली ढलान पर तैनात थे। टाइगर हिल टॉप पर टिके रहने और आपूर्ति के लिए पश्चिमी मार्ग को खुला रखने के लिए शत्रु अधीर हो गया।
6 जुलाई 1999 की प्रातः 6:00 बजे शत्रु ने टाइगर हिल, चार्ली फीचर, रॉकी नॉब और ट्रिंग हाइट से तोपखाने की भयानक गोलाबारी की। शत्रु ने पहले तीन दिशाओं से भारी गोलीबारी की और इसके पश्चात 15 सैनिकों के साथ नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह की स्थिति पर पलटवार किया। नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह ने निकट आ रहे शत्रुओं पर स्वचालित हथियारों की गोलीबारी को निर्देशित किया और वहां आमने-सामने की भीषण लड़ाई हुई।
नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह प्रचंड वीरता से शत्रु से लड़े और शत्रु का पलटवार विफल नहीं होने तक लड़ते रहे। भीषण लड़ाई में वह गंभीर रूप से घायल हो गए। इसके पश्चात, शत्रु ने 40 से 45 सैनिकों के साथ दूसरा पलटवार किया। गंभीर रूप से घायल होने के उपरांत भी नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह ने शत्रु को चुनौती दी और अपने सैनिकों के साथ शत्रु पर आक्रमण किया।
उन्होंने अति निकट से लड़ाई में शत्रु को भारी क्षति पहुंचाई। उन्होंने चार शत्रु सैनिकों को मार गिराया और अनेक को घायल कर दिया, जिससे शत्रु भागने पर विवश हो गए। नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह और उनके सैनिकों ने शरीर में चेतना रहने तक शत्रु को आगे नहीं बढ़ने दिया। अंततः नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह और उनके सभी सैनिक अपनी घातक चोटों से वीरगति को प्राप्त हुए।
नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह ने विशिष्ट वीरता, प्रचंड साहस और कर्तव्य के प्रति असाधारण समर्पण का प्रदर्शन करते हुए, भारतीय सेना की सर्वोच्च परंपराओं और राष्ट्र की सेवा में अपने जीवन का सर्वोच्च बलिदान दिया। उन्हें मरणोपरांत वीर चक्र से सम्मानित किया गया।
पंजाब सरकार ने रानीवाला गांव के राजकीय विद्यालय का नाम उनके नाम पर किया है। नायब सूबेदार करनैल सिंह के बलिदान को भारत में युगों - युगों तक स्मरण किया जाएगा।
स्रोत: रमेश शर्मा
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