Kargil Hero Colonel Sonam Wangchuk: During the 1999 Kargil War, this officer was given a vital mission to secure ‘Chorbat La’ in the Batalik sub-sector, situated on the ‘Line of Control‘ (LoC) with Pakistan in Ladakh. They led the soldiers of the ‘Ladakh Scouts.’ Leading from the front lines, they established several key ‘Observation Posts’ in extremely difficult conditions, battled enemy troops, and successfully took out numerous infiltrators.
As per the citation with his gallantry award, Wangchuk came across a group of 3-4 enemy soldiers while moving forward through fresh snow 1-2 meters deep in the Chorbat La sector, and succeeded in killing two of them.
Thereafter, when the enemy launched a strong attack on another outpost, he instantly reached the spot, took command, and launched a counter-offensive; this resulted in the recovery of a strategically important hill feature and the killing of six enemy personnel.
His leadership was crucial in repelling the enemy and securing the ‘Line of Control’ on the Chorbat La axis within the Batalik Sector. To honor his extraordinary bravery, two posts-‘Sonam 1’ and ‘Sonam 2’-were named in his honor.
