Major Man Mohan Singh Bajaj SC

Major Man Mohan Singh Bajaj hailed from Punjab and joined the Indian Army after completing his education. He was recruited into 1/11 GR battalion of 11 Gorkha Rifles Regiment, an infantry Regiment known for its brave soldiers and glorious history of various battle honours. By the year 1968, he had gathered experience in operating in challenging areas and had been promoted to the rank of Major. 

Nagaland Operation : 8th Jan 1969

During 1968-69, Maj Man Mohan Singh Bajaj's unit was deployed in Nagaland and was engaged in operations against the insurgents. As a number of insurgents were active in the AOR(Area of Responsibility) of the unit, the unit troops were regularly engaged in counter insurgency operations.  From 22nd August 1968 to 8th January 1969, Maj Bajaj's company was assigned the task of capturing the hostiles who were operating in Kohima area with illegal arms. Despite heavy rains and bad weather Maj Bajaj organized extensive patrolling in the area, which was thickly forested. Due to his concerted efforts, the hostile activities in his area almost came to an end.

On the 20th Sep,1968, Maj Bajaj was informed about the presence of a hostile in the vicinity of his post. He organized a plan for catching the hostile and personally planned an ambush for him. Positioning himself on the road side, he asked the man to come near, but when the latter started running, he chased him through the bushes and the cultivated area. The chase of the hostile continued for some time when he was located by the chasing party, led by Maj Bajaj and was successfully eliminated.  Again, on the 4th Jan, 1969 Maj Bajaj carried out a recce to locate the hide-out of the hostiles.

On the morning of 8th Jan,1969, Maj Bajaj carried out a tactical reconnaissance and approached the hide-out, with two soldiers, leaving the rest of his patrol about 50 meters behind. On seeing the officer and his party, 4 or 5 hostiles who were hiding there, rushed out and started running away into the jungle. Maj Bajaj challenged them and opened fire at them from his Stem Gun,  when they refused to follow his order. The hostiles in a panic also started firing in his direction. Maj Bajaj got hit by a bullet and got severely injured. He eventually succumbed to his injuries and was martyred.  Maj Man Mohan Singh Bajaj was a valiant soldier and gritty officer who led from the front and laid down his life in the line of his duty.

Maj Man Mohan Singh Bajaj was given the gallantry award, “Shaurya Chakra” for his conspicuous bravery, leadership, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice.

The citation for Shaurya Chakra awarded to him reads:

During the period 22nd August, 1968 to 8th January,1969, Major Man Mohan Singh along with his company, was assigned the task of apprehending the hostiles operating in Kohima area of Nagaland with illegal arms and causing depredations. Despite heavy rains and bad weather he organized extensive patrolling in the area, which was thickly forested. Due to concerted efforts, the hostile activities in his area almost came to an end. On the 20th Sep,1968, he was informed about the presence of a hostile in the vicinity of his post. He organized a plan for catching the hostile and personally planned an ambush for him. Positioning himself on the road side, he asked the man to come near, but when the latter started running, he chased him through the bushes and the cultivated area. The chase of the hostile continued for some time when he was located by the chasing party, led by Major Man Mohan Singh Bajaj, and was killed on the spot. Again, On the 4th Jan, 1969 he went out on a patrol to locate the hide-out of the hostiles. On the morning of 8th Jan,1969, he carried out a tactical reconnaissance and approached the hide-out, with two ORs, leaving the rest of his patrol about 50 meters behind. On seeing the officer and his party, 4 or 5 hostiles who were hiding there, rushed out and started running away into the jungle. Major Man Mohan Singh Bajaj challenged them and opened fire at them from his Stem Gun  when they refused to stop running. The hostiles also started  firing in his direction. In this encounter, the officer was hit by a bullet as a result of which he died.

In this encounter, Major Man Mohan Singh Bajaj displayed gallantry and determination.