A temple stands where Vijyant Thapar died

Capt Thapar's unit 2 Rajputana Riflesu00a0(RAFRIF) was tasked to clear Tololing and Pimple hills and the young officer was asked to attack the enemy bunkers with a platoon of soldiers.u00a0

"For a number of them it was one of the most difficult tasks but Vijyant called it a life time opportunity," said Capt Thapar's mother Tripta.

Vijyant brought the first victory to his unit by successfully capturing the Barbad Bunker on Tololing Top, which so far had managed to halt all attacks over Tololing hills. "Barbad bunker was one of the most fortified locations of the Pakistani intruders. But Vijyant's platoon suffered a number of casualties," said an Army officer.

It runs in the family: Col (retd) VN Thapar (above) is proud that his son won Vir Chakra, an honour for which he was nominated after the 1965 war.

Before moving ahead on his mission to Pimple Complex, Vijyant called up his mother on June 13. He said: "Mama, we have captured Tololing. Please save all the newspaper clippings about the Kargil war for me."

He also wrote a letter to his parents around this time, maybe he had a premonition about his end. "By the time you get this letter I will be observing you all from the skies enjoying the hospitality of the apsaras. I have no regret; in fact if I am reborn as a human again I will join the Army and fight for the nation," he wrote.

"The Pimple Complex saw one of the fiercest fights and several officers lay down their lives. My son was among the brave soldiers who died but only after assuring victory," said Col Thapar.

Capt Thapar was hit by a bullet in the head but before collapsing he killed the Pakistani who was manning the gun point. The place where the young man fell became so sacred that the soldiers later built a temple there.

A proud Tripta Thapar with a photo of her son

Border fan
Capt Thapar was very fond of the movie Border and used to listen to 'Sandeshe aate hain' almost everyday.
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Even when his unit was marching ahead for the war he led the company and sang the song aloud. His parents have kept the audio cassette of the movie as one of their treasured possessions.

Healing touch
The man who won one of the fiercest battles during Operation Vijay had a soft side too. Six-year-old Rukhsana was one of those people for whom Capt Thapar meant everything in the world. Rukhsana was a young girl in Kupwara whose father was killed by militants in front of her eyes. Due to the shock she lost her voice. Capt Thapar met her during one of his counter insurgency operations and was so moved to know her plight he almost adopted her. His persistent efforts soon bore fruit and Rukhsana got her voice back. Before leaving for the war, he asked his parents to take care of the girl.

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