Point 5140 hill in Drass sector of Kargil named as 'Gun Hill'

Point 5140 hill in Drass sector of Kargil named as 'Gun Hill'

 Point 5140 Kargil Sector in Drass has been renamed as 'Gun Hill' on 30th July, 2022. Tributes were paid to the supreme sacrifice of the Gunners in 'Operation Vijay' during the Kargil War of 1999. On this occasion a ceremony was held at Kargil War Memorial, Drass in the presence of veterans of all Artillery Regiment, who received the title of 'Kargil' honor in Operation Vijay.

 The capture of Point 5140 was an important factor in the early completion of the operation in the Kargil War of 1999. The Artillery Regiment with its lethal and precise firepower made a major impact on the enemy soldiers and their defense, focusing deadly fire on the enemy and their strong points such as Point 5140.

 The Indian Army announced the successful culmination of 'Operation Vijay' on July 26, 1999 in Kargil, Ladakh, declaring the end of a nearly three-month long battle with Pakistani troops.

Capture of Point 5140

 Point 5140, a strategically important mountain peak in the Drass sector, was entrusted to 13 JAK Rifles under the command of Lt Col Yogesh Kumar Joshi. Point 5140 is the highest point of the Tololing Ridgeline. This is the most formidable summit in the Drass sub-region.

 Lt Col Yogesh Kumar Joshi along with Bravo Company and Delta Company decided to attack Point 5140. While Lieutenant Sanjeev Singh Jamwal headed the Bravo Company, the Delta Company was led by the then Lieutenant Vikram Batra.

 Despite the treacherous terrain after midnight on June 20, 1999, both companies B and D approached Point 5140 under cover of artillery fire. While B Company first reached the top of the point and launched its attack from the left flank, D Company under Vikram Batra decided to approach the hill from behind with the aim of surprising the enemy and cutting off their return route.

 Vikram Batra was mortally wounded in the process of capturing Point 5140, which involved a single-handed fight with enemy troops, but he and his company successfully managed to capture Point 5140 and radioed his command post by saying his famous line ‘Yeh dil maange more".