Lt. Arun Khetarpal

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal displayed exceptional bravery during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. As a young tank commander of the 17 Poona Horse, he was called upon to reinforce Indian positions under heavy enemy attack. During the battle, he aggressively engaged enemy armor and successfully destroyed several tanks. Despite his own tank being hit and catching fire, he refused orders to withdraw and continued fighting. His determination helped prevent a major enemy breakthrough and played a vital role in securing Indian positions. He made the supreme sacrifice on 16 December 1971 and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.

Service Journey