Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan
Encyclopedia
Captain Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan (b.15 Apr 1980 - d.20 Mar 2007) was a Captain in the Indian Army
serving in the elite ‘Red Devil’ unit of 2nd Parachute Regiment
. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra
, the country’s highest peace time gallantry award in 2008. Captain Harshan was the youngest ever recipient of Ashok Chakra in the history of Indian Army. He was killed after being shot in the thigh and neck in an encounter with Harkatul Mujahideen terrorists in the Chhoti Margi area of Lolab in Jammu and Kashmir during May 20, 2007.
and National Defence Academy.
The encounter continued in the nearby Chotimargi MT-3448 region. On 20 May, Captain Harshan along with one of his junior sergeants, cordoned off one of the houses in which terrorists were hiding. At 03:50 AM, four of the terrorists rushed out firing towards Harshan and his companion. Harshan took out the leader of the terrorist group, but was shot in the thigh. Despite sustaining injury, he took out one more terrorist, but in due process got shot in his neck. Before succumbing to his injuries, he lobbed a grenade and wounded the third terrorist.
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
serving in the elite ‘Red Devil’ unit of 2nd Parachute Regiment
Parachute Regiment (India)
-History:The first Indian airborne formation was the 50 Independent Parachute Brigade raised on 29 October 1941 with 151 British, 152 Indian, and 153 Gurkha Parachute Battalions and other support units....
. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra
Ashoka Chakra Award
The Ashok Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other...
, the country’s highest peace time gallantry award in 2008. Captain Harshan was the youngest ever recipient of Ashok Chakra in the history of Indian Army. He was killed after being shot in the thigh and neck in an encounter with Harkatul Mujahideen terrorists in the Chhoti Margi area of Lolab in Jammu and Kashmir during May 20, 2007.
Early life
Captain Harshan was born on 15 Apr 1980 at Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was born to K. Radhakrishnan Nair and G. S. Chitrambika. He did his studies in Sainik School (Kazhakootam)Sainik School, Kazhakootam
Sainik School Kazhakootam, Thiruvananthapuram situated 18 km away from Trivandrum city on the National Highway 47.The concept of the Sainik School originated in the fertile mind of Late V K Krishna Menon, who was India's first Defence Minister...
and National Defence Academy.
Encounter
The encounter at Kaingur Nar started on 7 March 2007. Captain Harshan, while leading a small team, observed suspicious movement in MT-3245 area. Harshan eliminated two of the terrorists without sustaining any serious injury to himself.The encounter continued in the nearby Chotimargi MT-3448 region. On 20 May, Captain Harshan along with one of his junior sergeants, cordoned off one of the houses in which terrorists were hiding. At 03:50 AM, four of the terrorists rushed out firing towards Harshan and his companion. Harshan took out the leader of the terrorist group, but was shot in the thigh. Despite sustaining injury, he took out one more terrorist, but in due process got shot in his neck. Before succumbing to his injuries, he lobbed a grenade and wounded the third terrorist.