Overview:
The year was 1960 and a violent conflict spread over Congo between Belgium and the natives. The scale of bloodiness attracted the world's attention and India as a part of UN peacekeeping forces, also being it's one of the founding members sent it's reinforcements. In the month of December, 1961 the enemy forces decided to lay siege on Elizabethville which was the HQ of UN Peacekeeping forces.
Capt. Salaria was tasked to cut off the withdrawal routes of enemy forces with help of two Swedish armored personnel carriers. Capt. Salaria launched a spirited attack at the enemy posts resulting in 40 battle casualties on the enemy side and enemy forces forfeiting their ground instead of being numerically superior.
Capt. Salaria however was injured in the neck while fighting and even while wounded kept fighting finally succumbing to his injuries and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
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The deadly Khukri:
The Alpha company under Capt. Salaria started its attack on the roadblock. However in the midst, they came to know that they have been ambushed by enemy forces. Fire was coming from all the directions and seeing that any more delay would give time to enemy, the remaining 15 Gorkhas under Capt. Salaria charged with their Khukris on armed forces of enemy, swiftly taking them down. Till the enemy could react 40 soldiers were already killed in action and the rest of them decided to flee despite having numerical superiority.
Captain Salaria, despite being injured in the neck kept fighting and took several soldiers alone.
Just while he was fighting, two bullets pierced his chest and he attained eternity. He is a widely respected figure for Gurkhas.
Aftermath:
With Capt. Gurbachan Salaria's supreme sacrifice, the UN security forces were greatly helped and attacking forces were cut off, saving the UN Head Quarter in Elizabethville bringing peace in the region and pushing the enemy on the brink of defeat. He was awarded the PVC for his exemplary courage and determination posthumously.
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| UN Peacekeeping forces in Elizabethville, Congo |
I sincerely hope that Capt. Salaria's life will inspire you to the core and help you attain your goals in life with as accuracy. He will always be embed in our hearts for his excellence.
~Apoorv Saxena
