Lieutenant Colonel Inder Bal Singh Bawa, commanding officer of 4/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force), made the supreme sacrifice on 13 October 1987 during Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka. He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his conspicuous bravery and leadership under fire.
Born on 25 May 1947 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he was commissioned into the 5 Gorkha Rifles on 11 June 1967. He later commanded 4/5 Gorkha Rifles, leading the battalion during its deployment with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka.
His battalion was assigned the task of clearing the axis between Vasavilan, Urumpirai and Jaffna Fort. Armed opposition was intense, with terrorists occupying fortified positions. Lieutenant Colonel Bawa led his men from the front, directing the advance and helping overcome enemy strongholds.
On 13 October 1987, his battalion was assigned another demanding mission: to reach and extricate personnel of 13 Sikh Light Infantry and a team from 10 Para Commando who were trapped in the Kondavil North East area. Lieutenant Colonel Bawa personally led his troops through heavily fortified hostile territory, established contact with the trapped personnel and successfully enabled their extrication.
During this operation, a terrorist suicide squad opened fire on the advancing troops. Lieutenant Colonel Bawa was struck by the gunfire and was martyred while leading his men. His actions demonstrated exceptional leadership, courage and commitment to the safety of fellow soldiers.
The Maha Vir Chakra citation recognises his conspicuous bravery and the inspiration he provided to his troops. Lieutenant Colonel Inder Bal Singh Bawa's sacrifice remains an enduring part of the history of Operation Pawan and the proud legacy of 5 Gorkha Rifles.
