On 16 June Vikram Batra was promoted to the rank of captain (a field promotion). On that day he wrote a letter to his brother Vishal from Dras. He had at this time just 18 months’ service.
Forces Letter 16 June 1999
Dear Vishal
As you have been reading in the papers and listening to the daily news, things have become very hot here. I am sitting at a height of 15,500 feet and fighting the war with the Pakis… Life is at total risk. Anything can happen here, every day we are facing hell, lots of bullets and more artillery shells. Today is a very sad day for our battalion as we have lost one officer… Dear Kushu, take care of Mom and Dad. As I have written, anything can happen here I have been promoted………………………………………………………………………
With love Vikram
Officers of 13 jak rif discussed plans to capture 5140 and surrounding areas.
13 Jak Rif was tasked to capture pt 5140… it was imperative for the Indian army to capture this point at the earliest.
Troops began observing 5140.
These Pakis have made solid defences… sure looks like a tough nut to crack. But let’s see.
Bravo 5 please confirm if you have noted the co-ordinates.
Co-ordinates fixed and confirmed.
Gentlemen, Pt 5140 is our primary target but to get there we need to clear its adjacent features.
Soon after, Vikram led his troops for the attack.
This way men, keep moving, we have to reach our objective quickly. Move it…
Those infidels think they can defeat us. We will kill them. Our jihad is on… There get the B*+@#DS!....
Atop the rocky knob the Pakistanis were busy observing Indian positions elsewhere.
Vikram launched a surprise attack.
The fire fight raged.
Durga Mata Ki Jai…
We split up from here. Team A with me and Team B with Subedar Sahib. We will flank them from the left and right. Let’s go!
…killing two Pakistani soldiers instantly.
Quick, Ahmed, to your positions, the Kafirs are attacking us.
The Pakistanis were swift in their response and they opened lip with their machine guns.
Die you... Infidels.
Here is a grenade for breakfast.
But the Indian troops weren’t backing down. They lobbed grenades on the Pak MMG.
Force foxtrot here, taking losses. Need reinforcements immediately. Infidels are almost here.
Quickly men. Move fast.
Mortars in position, ready and set.
The fighting raged. The Pakistanis were secure behind strong stone sangars and bunkers.
Dammit, the Pakis are still offering resistance. That bunker needs to be taken out.
I’ve radioed for rocket
launchers they should be here shortly.
Come on men Quickly, let’s go! Let’s go!
soon, troops with rocket launchers arrived... ....And took care of the Pakistani machine gun post.
More troops arrived on the scene equipped with more rocket launchers.
The Pakistanis were being pushed back as they suffered heavy losses.
Captain Jamwal’s company had captured their objective by 0335 Hours (3.35 am) and he announced his success with his success signal*.
OH YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!’
Sir, the sun is about to rise. We should send the message.
Right, absolutely.
At 0435 (4.35 Am) when the sun was just lighting up the mountain tops, Vikram Batra radioed his success with ‘dil mange more’ on his radio set and hoisted the Indian tricolour on the top of Pt. 5140.
YEH DIL MANGE MORE!!!
A cheer went up from the brigade headquarters, who were following the progress of the battle on the radio. What was exceptionally good was that the companies suffered no casualties.
*This was the slogan of Hunter Squadron at the NDA to which he belonged.
The capture of PT. 5140 turned the tide of the battle in the Dras sector. After its capture helicopters could land at Tololing top.
After the capture of PT. 5140, 13 JAK RIF were deinducted from Dras to Ghumri for rest and recuperation. From here Vikram spoke on satellite phone to his parents telling them of his success.
Photographs of Vikram Batra and his men with a huge haul of weapons and ammunition and the national flag flying on top PT. 5140 were splashed across the national papers together with his slogan ‘yeh dil mange more’.
The period of rest was cut short and after four days the battalion was moved to the Mushkoh valley for the capture of PT. 4875 on 30 June 1999.
