Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Assam Rifles, British Indian Army

For merits during the Burma Campaign.

Rank:

Subedar Major (Major)

Unit:

8th Battalion, Assam Rifles, Indian Army

Awarded on:

April 26th, 1961

"During 1961, Sub Maj Limbu’s unit was deployed in the Nagaland and was engaged in counter-insurgency operations on a regular basis. The AOR(Area of responsibility) of the unit was affected by the anti-national activities of the Naga insurgents who would attack the security forces every now and then. Consequently the unit troops had to maintain a very high level of alert at all times and be prepared for action at a very short notice. Based on the information from the intelligence sources, 8 Assam Rif planned one such counter-insurgency operation on 26 Apr 1961 under the leadership of Sub Maj Limbu. The operation was planned essentially to neutralize the threat of Naga militants, hiding in a hideout in thick jungles, falling under the AOR of the unit.

Sub Maj Limbu set off for the operation along with his comrades and reached the suspected area in the early morning of 26 Apr. The hideout was located in an inaccessible forest and was built around a pit with bamboo barricades all around it. Sub Maj Limbu quickly cordoned off the area and deployed his soldiers tactically to deal with any eventuality. After breaking the barricades, Sub Maj Limbu leading the attack charged at the militants and eliminated two of them, while taking possession of their weapons. However, while doing so he got hit by a bullet and got seriously injured. But without caring for his injuries, he crawled forward and lobbed two grenades in the militants’ bunker killing three of them. He continued giving instructions to his men and motivating them till all the militants were neutralized. Sub Maj Limbu later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. Sub Maj Limbu was a gallant soldier and an inspiring junior commissioned officer, who led from the front and laid down his life in the line of his duty."

Posthumously awarded