Captain Sanjeev S. Pathak hailed from Delhi and was the son of Shri Shiv Prasad. He chose the Army as his profession and underwent training at the Officers' Training Academy, Chennai, passing out with the SS-68 Course. He was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion, The Rajput Regiment, before later serving with 44 Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir.
By 2002, Captain Pathak was serving in Shopian, an area where security forces were conducting regular counter-terrorism operations. The terrain, with its orchards and difficult approaches, demanded constant vigilance. For the soldiers deployed there, intelligence could lead to an operation at any hour, requiring them to move quickly and establish positions before a terrorist group could escape.
Subedar Hazari Lal Gujjar came from Nangal Checheeka village in Kotputli tehsil of Jaipur district, Rajasthan. He too had served with the 2nd Battalion, The Rajput Regiment, before being deputed to 44 Rashtriya Rifles. An experienced soldier and Junior Commissioned Officer, he was known within his unit for his professionalism, discipline and commitment to his men. He was married to Smt Sunder Devi.
On 13 August, security forces received intelligence regarding the presence of heavily armed terrorists in the Kach Dorah area of Shopian. A coordinated operation was planned, with troops moving into the area and establishing positions intended to prevent the terrorists from escaping. Captain Pathak was given responsibility for leading his men during the operation, while Subedar Hazari Lal was part of his team.
As the cordon tightened, the terrorists attempted to break out and opened heavy fire. Captain Pathak and Subedar Hazari Lal took position along a likely escape route. It was a tactically important position, but it also exposed the two soldiers to intense fire.
The engagement became fierce. Captain Pathak was seriously wounded, yet continued directing his men and maintaining control of the operation. Subedar Hazari Lal was also hit by multiple rounds. According to their memorial records, both continued to perform their duties despite their injuries before sustaining fatal wounds during the close-range engagement.
Both soldiers made the supreme sacrifice on 13 August 2002.
For their comrades, the loss was not simply that of an officer and a JCO. Captain Pathak was a leader responsible for his men, while Subedar Hazari Lal represented the experience and steadiness of a senior soldier. Their final moments reflected the bond that exists between officers and men in an operational unit: when the situation became dangerous, they remained together at the point where their presence was most needed.
Captain Pathak was survived by his parents, while Subedar Hazari Lal was survived by his wife. Behind the military records and operational reports were families who had to live with the loss of someone who had been part of their everyday lives.
There is another part of their story that deserves to be remembered. Neither man had been defined solely by the operation in which he made the supreme sacrifice. They had spent years building their careers, serving with their parent regiment and later taking on the demanding responsibility of Rashtriya Rifles service in Jammu and Kashmir.
Their final operation became the last chapter of their military careers, but it should not become the only chapter by which they are remembered.
Captain Sanjeev S. Pathak was an officer from Delhi who chose the Army and earned the trust of the soldiers he led.
Subedar Hazari Lal Gujjar was a soldier from Rajasthan who rose through the ranks and carried years of experience into his service with 44 Rashtriya Rifles.
On 13 August, their stories come together in the history of one operation in Shopian.
For The Honour Post, remembering them means remembering the people behind the ranks: the officer, the JCO, the families waiting at home and the comrades who stood beside them.
Twenty-four years later, the date remains a reminder of the price paid by soldiers serving in the Valley.
Captain Sanjeev S. Pathak
44 Rashtriya Rifles | The Rajput Regiment
Subedar Hazari Lal Gujjar
44 Rashtriya Rifles | The Rajput Regiment
13 August 2002 | Kach Dorah, Shopian, Jammu & Kashmir
Two soldiers. One mission. A sacrifice that must never be forgotten. 🇮🇳
The Honour Post remembers their service, honours their courage and pays tribute to their supreme sacrifice.
**Lest We Forget.**
