Major Rajiv Kumar Joon was born on 5th December 1969 to Shri Dharma Singh & Srimati Shanti Devi. He hailed from the Gadikhari village of Rohtak district in Haryana. Major Rajiv completed his schooling in a Military School in Kunjpura in Karnal and his inclination towards military life got firmed up there. He went on to join the National Defence Academy in Khadakvasla and got commissioned on 8th June 1991 into the Grenadiers Regiment and joined 22 Grenadiers. During 1994, Major Rajiv’s unit, 22 Grenadiers was deployed in J&K for anti-insurgency operations.
| Service Number | IC-50443 K |
| Place of Birth | Rohtak, Haryana |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 22 Grenadiers |
| Regiment | Grenadiers Regiment |
| Award | Ashok Chakra |
| Date of Martyrdom | 16th September 1994 |
On 16th September 1994, Major Rajiv Kumar Joon’s unit was ordered to lay a siege and carry out a search operation in a village of Anantnag district. During the operation Major Rajiv noticed two terrorists hiding in the house taking advantage of the gap between the door and wall of the house. On being challenged the terrorists started firing indiscriminately and wounded one of the soldiers badly. A gun battle ensued under the direction of Major Rajiv and he ordered his battalion to continue firing to distract them. Meanwhile, the terrorists jumped to a basement and fired at the search team. Major Rajiv Kumar then crawled towards a loophole at the exterior of the basement and slid two hand grenades into it and fired at them. Consequently, one of the terrorists was killed but the other terrorist kept firing at the troops. Maj Rajiv then crawled through the loophole and stood up directly in front of the other terrorist. The terrorist took advantage of the dark and had a shot at Major Rajiv injuring him badly. However, Major Rajiv refused to back down, chased, and fired at the basement, killing the terrorist. A large number of arms and ammunition was later recovered from the hide-out of the terrorists. Major Rajiv later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred.
Major Rajiv was awarded the nation’s highest gallantry award during peacetime, “Ashok Chakra” posthumously.
