On 11 August 2022, the quiet of the early hours was shattered at an Army post in Parghal, in the Darhal area of Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir. What began as an attempt by terrorists to breach an Army position soon turned into a fierce battle, in which four soldiers of 11 Rajputana Rifles (11 Raj Rif) made the supreme sacrifice while defending their post.


The soldiers were Subedar Rajendra Prasad, Rifleman Manoj Kumar, Rifleman D. Lakshmanan and Rifleman Nishant Malik. They came from different parts of India and had different stories behind them, but on that morning they stood together as soldiers of the same battalion, facing the same threat.


It was around 2 a.m. when alert sentries noticed suspicious movement approaching the post. The attackers attempted to enter the Army position, using grenades and firearms. The soldiers immediately responded, preventing the terrorists from gaining entry and engaging them in a prolonged exchange of fire.


The battle continued for around four hours. Despite the difficult weather and dense vegetation surrounding the post, the soldiers of 11 Raj Rif held their positions and fought back. The attack was eventually thwarted and both terrorists were neutralised.


But the victory came at a heavy cost.


Subedar Rajendra Prasad, a Junior Commissioned Officer from Rajasthan, had spent decades in uniform. At 48, he was an experienced soldier and a senior member of his unit. His family remembered him not only as a decorated soldier but as a father and a husband who remained deeply connected to his home despite years of military service.


Rifleman Manoj Kumar, from Faridabad, Haryana, had joined the Army with the determination to serve the country. His family remembered him as a young man who was proud of his uniform and committed to his responsibilities. His sacrifice left a deep void in his home and among those who knew him.


Rifleman D. Lakshmanan, from Tamil Nadu, had also chosen the Army as his path in life. His twin brother had shared the same dream of joining the Armed Forces, but Lakshmanan was the one who succeeded in wearing the uniform. At only 24, he made the supreme sacrifice while carrying out his duty in Rajouri.


Rifleman Nishant Malik, from Hisar, Haryana, was just 21. He had spoken to his family shortly before the attack. The next day, his family was waiting for his call, unaware that he had already entered the final battle of his life. His sacrifice became one of the most painful memories for his family and comrades.


These four soldiers were not simply names attached to an operation. They were sons, brothers, husbands and friends. They had families waiting for them, dreams for their futures and lives that continued far beyond their military duties.


Their sacrifice also demonstrated the importance of alertness and courage at an Army post. The terrorists were prevented from achieving their objective because the sentries detected the suspicious movement and the troops responded immediately.


The bravery of the soldiers of 11 Raj Rif that morning ensured that the attackers could not enter deeper into the post. The battle was eventually brought under control, but the memories of those who made the supreme sacrifice remained with their families and comrades.


The operation also left several other soldiers injured. One of them, Havildar Satpal Singh, later succumbed to his injuries on 21 August 2022, adding another name to the roll of honour associated with the Parghal attack.


The events of 11 August 2022 remain an important chapter in the history of 11 Rajputana Rifles and in the security history of Rajouri. For those who served alongside the bravehearts, the date is not merely a date on a calendar. It is a reminder of comrades who stood beside them when the moment demanded everything.


Today, as we remember Subedar Rajendra Prasad, Rifleman Manoj Kumar, Rifleman D. Lakshmanan and Rifleman Nishant Malik, we remember the human beings behind the uniforms.


Their courage cannot be measured only by the length of an operation or the number of weapons recovered. It is remembered in the stories their families tell, in the memories of their comrades and in the traditions of the battalion they served.


On this day, The Honour Post pays tribute to the four bravehearts of 11 Raj Rif who made the supreme sacrifice defending their post in Parghal, Rajouri.


Their courage remains.

Their names remain.

Their sacrifice remains. 🇮🇳


**Lest We Forget.**