Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan

Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan (15 April 1980 – 20 March 2007) was a Captain in the Indian Army serving in the elite ‘Red Devil’ unit of 2nd Battalion (Special Forces). He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the country’s highest peace time gallantry award in 2008.^[1][2] Harshan was the youngest ever recipient of Ashok Chakra in the history of Indian Army.^[3] 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 an operation on 20 March 2007.

Early life

Harshan was born on 15 April 1980 at Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was born to K. Radhakrishnan Nair and G. S. Chitrambika. He did his studies in Sainik School (Kazhakootam) and the National Defence Academy (NDA). He was a part of the 101st course, Golf squadron at the NDA. He served as Cadet Captain at Sainik School, during his standard XII (1996–97) and is noted for a performance as 'Brutus' during a stage play on 'Julius Caesar' during the Annual day celebrations.^[4]

Encounter

The encounter at Kaingur Nar started on 7 March 2007. Captain Harshan, while leading a small team, observed suspicious movement in the 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 March, 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 the process got shot in his neck. Before dying from his injuries, he lobbed a grenade and wounded the third terrorist.^[5]

References

Further reading

• Heroes of Parachute Regiment