Manish Pitambare

Manish Pitambare

Major Manish Pitambare
Born 1975
Died 27 November 2006
Bejibehara, Kashmir
Buried at Thane, Kashmir
Allegiance India India
Service/branch Indian Army
Years of service 1996–2006
Rank Major
Unit 3 Para Regiment
Awards Kirti Chakra

Manish Pitambare was a paratrooper from the Special Forces of the Indian Army who posthumously received the Kirti Chakra, India's second-highest peace-time gallantry decoration.

Biography

After obtaining his Secondary School Certificate with almost 90% marks, Pitambare joined the Armed Forces after his SSC.[1] He went on to join the National Defence Academy in Pune, and IMA After completing the training he joined the Army in 1996.[2] He was made a Major before the age of 31.[1]

He married his wife (Mughda) in 2003[2] and the couple had a daughter Yukta in 2005.[2]

He was part of the team that tracked down Al-Badr militant Toufik Akmal, wanted for his suspected links to the 11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings.[2]

He was killed following a night-long gun battle in south Kashmir's Bejibehara town on 27 November 2006, when he was a member of the 3 Para Regiment.[3] During the battle, Pitambare shot dead Suhail Faizal, one of Hizbul Mujahideen’s top commanders in Kashmir.[2]

In January 2007, Pitambare was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, India's second-highest Peace-Time Gallantry Award.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Dhuri, Shailesh (28 November 2006). "An obituary for Major Manish Pitambare". Rediff News, India. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Rangnekar, Prashant (30 November 2006). "SMS to Thane, death on duty in J&K". The Indian Express Limited. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  3. Ahmad, Mukhtar (28 November 2006). "Army major, Hizb terrorist killed in Kashmir encounter". Rediff India Abroad. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  4. "Western Command GOC-in-C to receive award". Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 2009-08-10.