Havildar Rajesh Kumar belonged to the Sonipat district in Haryana. He was born to Shri Ram Kishan and Smt Parmeshwari. He was recruited into 11 Raj Rif of the Rajputana Rifles Regiment. During 2009, Havildar Rajesh Kumar’s unit was deployed in the Kupwara District of J&K.
| Service Number | 2890262H |
| Rank | Havildar |
| Unit | 11 Raj Rif |
| Regiment | Rajputana Rifles |
| Award | Ashok Chakra |
| Date of Martyrdom | 1st August 2009 |
Based on information received from the intelligence sources, a search operation by the Ghatak platoon team was launched on 1st August 2009. Havildar Rajesh Kumar was part of that team and was leading a section of the Ghatak team. As the team reached the suspected area and launched the search operation in the dense forest of the Kupwara district, the troops were subjected to indiscriminate firing by the terrorists. Havildar Rajesh Kumar along with his section immediately swing into action. Havildar Rajesh Kumar very courageously closed in around the flank and eliminated one terrorist. While continuing the search, the team was again fired at by two terrorists positioned upslope. realizing the danger to the lives of his comrades, Havildar Rajesh Kumar moved ahead to engage one of the terrorists through a hail of bullets. While doing so he sustained gunshot wounds in his abdomen. Disregarding his serious injuries Havildar Rajesh Kumar managed to neutralize the second terrorist too. Bleeding profusely, Havildar Rajesh Kumar moved to engage the third terrorist from behind and eliminated him in hand-to-hand combat. However, Havildar Rajesh Kumar later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred.
Havildar Rajesh Kumar was given the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry award, ‘Ashok Chakra’ for his indomitable courage, and supreme sacrifice.
