Major Amit Ahuja

Major Amit Ahuja hailed from Ambala in Haryana and was born in February 1975. Son of Shri Yashpal Ahuja and Smt Santosh Ahuja, Major Amit Ahuja did his initial schooling from St Paul School, Ambala, and then studied from Army School, Ambala Cantt.  Subsequently, he went on to graduate from  DAV College, Ambala. Known to be a well-mannered and intelligent boy since his childhood, Maj Amit Ahuja was passionate about joining the Indian Army since his younger days. Following his passion, eventually he cleared the combined defence service examination and went to the prestigious IMA Dehradun for training. He was commissioned into 2 Dogra Battalion of the Dogra Regiment, an infantry regiment known for its gallant soldiers and numerous battle honours. 

Gurez Sector Operation (J&K) : 22 Aug 2001

During 2001, Maj Amit Ahuja’s 2 Dogra battalion was deployed in the Gurez sector in J & K and was engaged in counterinsurgency operations. The Gurez sector was one of the remote parts of the valley located in Bandipora district around 125 km from Srinagar. The sector was heavily militarized and soldiers were stationed on mountaintop posts to guard the Line of Control and prevent the infiltration of militants. The unit troops besides manning the forward posts in the Gurez Sector were also engaged in counter-infiltration operations. The posts of the unit were located in high-altitude areas with inhospitable terrain and extreme weather conditions. In addition to manning the stationary posts, the unit launched regular armed patrols to monitor the area between the posts.

On 22 Aug 2001, Pakistani forces indulged in ceasefire violation and resorted to unprovoked firing in Gurez sector. It was probably an attempt to provide cover fire to infiltrators sneaking from across the border. On that day, Maj Amit Ahuja was at one of the forward posts in the Gurez sector that bore the brunt of the enemy shelling. Indian army initiated a befitting reply resulting in a prolonged cross-border exchange of fire. However, during the heavy exchange of fire, Maj Amit Ahuja got hit along with two other soldiers and got severely injured. They were shifted to the 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar but Maj Amit Ahuja later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred.  Maj Amit Ahuja was a committed soldier and a determined officer, who led from the front and laid down his life at the age of 26 years in the line of his duty.

Major Amit Ahuja is survived by his father Shri Yashpal Ahuja and mother Smt Santosh Ahuja.