information
about the militants while I keep carrying out raids on their hideouts and
camps". These were the words of Maj Sameer Katwal who always looked
for action and was ever ready to face danger and take risks. Though he was
only 25 years old, his experience in operations against the militants of
the North-East made him a veteran of sorts. His first tryst with destiny
was in Nagaland in 1997 when he walked headlong into a NSCN (IM) camp and
had a narrow escape when a bullet hit the tree behind him, just above his
head.
As they say, a tree laden with
fruits is always bent; Maj Sameer too was modesty personified. In a short
span of four years, Maj Sameer achieved what many take a life-time to
achieve— a niche for himself in the battalion and a space for himself in
every one’s heart.
The "Bachelor Brigade
Commander", as he was affectionately called in the battalion, Maj
Sameer hailed from a village in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. He was
commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment after going through four years of
rigorous training at National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Indian
Military Academy, Dehra Dun.
It was on August 27, 1999 that he
got information about the presence of some militants in the general area
of Lodi Cachari. Just before going for the operation, he told his friend
that he would rest after this operation. Rest he did but not the way we
would like him to.
As an officer and a gentleman, he
had excelled in all fields of activities. A topper in all the courses he
had attended, he was also awarded the coveted ‘Commando Dagger’. Maj
Sameer, though no longer amidst us, continues to be a source of
inspiration to the entire battalion.
input :
Capt K Anil Kumar
"Knowledge
collection is not my cup of tea. Keep giving me