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Major Navneet Vats

Fourth Battalion the Third Gorkha Rifles

32 Rashtriya Rifles

Major Navneet Vats, of the Fourth Battalion, the Third Gorkha Rifles was on deputation to 32 Rashtriya Rifles and  posted in Srinagar. He was leading an Army operation of evacuating a telecom building in Srinagar, where two militants had holed up since November 18, 2003. He was killed on November 20, 2003 when he valiantly stormed the building. The Major, who received six bullets on his torso, later succumbed to his injuries.

Navneet was a true soldier and always led his men from the front. He adorned Olive Green uniform for this day, and he died valiantly, fighting for the honour of his motherland. He believed that the honour of the country comes first always and died for this belief. He has done us all proud

The martyr’s body was flown in from Srinagar on November 20, 2003 to his home town of Chandigarh  and kept in the Command Hospital, Chandimandir. The body was taken to the Sector 11 house of wife Mrs. Shivani Vats.  The young Major and his wife Shivani were married in 1999, and have a  three-year-old daughter, Inayat.

He was cremated with full military honours on November 21, 2003.From the moment Major Navneet’s mortal remains escorted by officials from his unit arrived at his residence until the pyre was lit there was complete silence. A ceremonial guard from 5 Gorkha Rifles, reversed arms while the bugler sounded the last post. A three-shot volley was also fired by  the jawans from Gorkha regiment as a gun salute.

Little Inayat also paid a floral tribute to her father during the wreath laying ceremony. Shivani picked up a couple of flowers from the wreaths and handed them over to her. She looked on as Inayat put the flowers near her papa’s face.

The cremation was held at the Mani Majra cremation ground, and people from all walks of life attended the funeral. Col Manvendra Singh laid the wreath on behalf of the GOC-in-C, Brig V.P. Kushwaha on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Western Command and Col A.S. Chandok on behalf of the Station Commander, Chandimandir. The Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Mrs Satwanti Ahlawat, DSP Headquarters, Mr Deshbandu and Prof Harbans Lal Sagar and his wife, besides the parents of martyr, Major Sandeep Sagar, also laid wreaths.