Param Vir Chakra : Arun Khetarpal

The Battle of Basantar was fought inside the Shakargarh Bulge that extended into Indian territory. Shakargarh was important strategically to both India and Pakistan. To India it was important because its capture would not only remove the threat to Jammu and Northern Punjab but would also enable India to pose a threat to the heartland of Pakistan. To Pakistan it was important because it facilitated an offensive against the Indian base at Pathankot, the capture of which would isolate Jammu and Kashmir. Some of the fiercest battles of the Western Front were fought in this area.

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was commissioned into Poona Horse on 13 June 1971. He had just five months service when the war began. It was at the battle of Jarpal, in the vicinity of Basantar, that a savage battle was fought between Indian and Pakistani forces. It was at this battle that two Param Vir Chakras were awarded to Major Hoshiar Singh of 3 Grenadiers and Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal of Poona Horse.

This is the story of Arun Khetarpal who was killed in action when he was just 21 years old. He was at that time, India’s youngest person to be awarded the Param Vir Chakra – India’s highest award for courage in war.