More often than not, if one takes small steps early, it prevents major problems later. A simple act of waking up early in the morning and going for a walk in the long run has numerous health benefits. The simplest of measures pay huge dividends later.
Similar is the tale of Gunner Rishi Kumar belonging to the Field Artillery Regiment posted Panzgam, Kupwara. Gunner Rishi Kumar was on sentry duty when at 4 am he noticed three terrorist trying to breach the barbed wire fence. He immediately alerted the higher ups and a perimeter patrol party was sent to intercept the extremists. By the time the perimeter patrol party intercepted the terrorists, they had breached the second layer of the barbed wire fence and had just entered the camp, firing their weapons all this while. Naik BV Ramanna and Subedar Bhoop Singh were the part of the perimeter patrol party that initially engaged the terrorists and the first casualties of the attack. The terrorists first targets were the officers’ quarters.
Captain Ayush Yadav had woken up because of the sounds of gun fire. He immediately picked up his service weapon and confronted the terrorists. Though he wasn’t able to neutralize or injure the terrorists, his initiative prevented the terrorist from entering the officers’ quarters.
In the meantime Gunner Rishi Kumar waited for the terrorist to get closer to his position. Once they got close enough he engaged them. He was hit in the head by a bullet but survived thanks to the bullet proof patka he was wearing on his head. Due to the impact of the bullet, Gunner Rishi Kumar fell down on the ground. He recovered, shot and dispatched the terrorist who was closest to the living quarters of the soldiers first. The second terrorist of the group then engaged Gunner Rishi Kumar and he subsequently got shot in the thigh. But Gunner Rishi Kumar went down fighting and emptied the entire magazine of bullets into the second terrorist neutralizing him on the spot. By this time Gunner Rishi Kumar was out of ammunition. Looking at his fallen accomplices, the third terrorist of the group opened fire on Gunner Rishi Kumar who had by now picked up the weapon of the slain terrorist. Rishi Kumar answered through the barrel of his gun. By this time the Quick Reaction Team reached the site of assault. Panic gripped the terrorist, he abandoned his weapon and ran for his life. But Rishi Kumar had injured him before that. In the chaos of the situation and under the cover of darkness, the third terrorist managed to escape.
Had it not been for the alertness and never say die attitude of Gunner Rishi Kumar who hails from Araa, Bihar we would have had a second Uri.
Also one shouldn’t forget the initiative and supreme sacrifice of Captain Ayush Yadav, Naik BV Rmanna and Subedar Bhoop Singh in neutralizing this cowardly attack. It is only in trying circumstances that the true nature of a person is revealed.
