Captain Amol Kalia was born on 26th February 1974 in Nangal town in the Ropar district of Punjab. He passed the entrance exam of the National Defense Academy (NDA) in April 1994. During 1999, Captain Amol’s unit 12 JAK LI was deployed in the Batalik sector of J&K as part of Operation Vijay.
| Service Number | IC-54065F |
| Place of Birth | Nangal, Punjab |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 12 JAK LI |
| Regiment | J&K Light Infantry |
| Award | Vir Chakra |
| Date of Martyrdom | 9th June 1999 |
In June 1999 Captain Amol Kalia was given the task to recapture the peak point 5203, which was at a height of 17000 feet in the Kargil-Yaldor region. A fierce battle followed with the enemy troops which lasted for about 24 hours. Captain Kalia and his team of 13 men who were specialized in mountain warfare were air-dropped into the region the previous day. They engaged the enemy at about 3 a.m. on June 8 but had been stopped in their advance by the enemy owing to pitch darkness. The Pakistanis were well-entrenched and had made several field fortifications. The enemy counter-attacked the position during the early hours of June 8 in which the light machine gun detachment personnel accompanying Captain Kalia were killed. Captain Kalia managed to take control of the Light Machine Gun (LMG)and killed three enemy soldiers and injured another three. But the numbers were against him and Captain Kalia was hit by a burst of bullets in the morning at about 9 a.m. Though he was grievously injured, he fought till the end till he succumbed to his injuries. The recapture of a key position in the Batalik sector by Captain Amol Kalia and 12 of his men, was one of the bravest acts seen in the Kargil war.
Captain Amol Kalia was a valiant soldier and a gritty officer who led from the front and laid down his life in the line of his duty. He was given the gallantry award, “Vir Chakra” for his outstanding bravery, leadership, fighting spirit, and supreme sacrifice.
