Grenadier Md Ramjan Khan

Grenadier Md Ramjan Khan hailed from Dhanuri village in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan and was born on 06 Sept 1969. Son of Late Shri Inayat Khan and Smt Munni Bai, he did his initial schooling from Shaheed Major MH Khan Government Senior Secondary School, Dhanuri in Sonasar in Rajasthan. He joined the Army after completing his school education on 30 Sept 1988 at the age of 19 years. He was recruited into 14 Grenadiers of the Grenadiers Regiment, an infantry Regiment known for its brave soldiers and having a glorious history of various battle honours. 

After serving for a few years he got married to Ms Alahando Bano and the couple had two sons, Mohd Irfan and Taufiq Khan, and a daughter Gulshan Bano. By the year 1997, he had served for almost 9 years and had served in various operational areas with challenging terrain and work environments. After serving for few years with his parent unit he was later deputed to serve with 21 Rashtriya Rifles battalion deployed for counter-insurgency operations in J & K.

Kupwara operation: 21 Apr 1997

During 1997, Gdr Md Ramjan Khan's unit 21 RR battalion was deployed in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. The unit troops were engaged in counter-insurgency operations on a regular basis as its AOR (Area of Responsibility) was affected by active militancy. Gdr Md Ramjan Khan’s unit also undertook operations to check the infiltration bids as its AOR was prone to infiltration by the militants from across the border. One such operation was undertaken by the troops of 21 RR on 21 Apr 1997, based on the information from intelligence sources. Gdr Md Ramjan Khan was part of the team that was assigned the task of undertaking this operation.

As planned, Gdr Md Ramjan Khan and his comrades reached the suspected area of Kupwara district on 21st Apr 1997. The troops cordoned off the suspected area and launched the search operation. Soon the troops made contact with the militants who fired at them on being challenged. Consequently, a heavy exchange of fire ensued thereafter, which continued intermittently for several hours. However, during this heavy exchange of fire, Gdr Md Ramjan Khan received gun shots and got severely injured. He was soon evacuated and shifted to the Army medical facility for medical treatment. However Gdr Md Ramjan later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Gdr Md Ramjan Khan was a valiant soldier, who laid down his life at the age of 27 years in the line of his duty, following the highest traditions of the Indian Army. 

Gdr Md Ramjan Khan always stressed on the importance of education in his family and wanted to see one of his children as a doctor. Fulfilling the dream of their father, two of his children (son Taufiq Khan and daughter Gulshan Bano) became doctors. Gdr Md Ramjan Khan is survived by his wife Smt Alahando Bano, sons Shri Mohd Irfan Khan & Dr Taufiq Khan and daughter Dr Gulshan Bano.