Birendra Nath Tiwari

Biography

Lance Naik Birendra Nath Tiwari hailed from Bihar and was drawn to the Army from his younger days. After completing his school education he fulfilled that ambition, enlisting into the 12 Bihar battalion of the Bihar Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its gallant soldiers and numerous battle honours. In November 1999, his unit was deployed in Jammu & Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations. Although 'Operation Vijay' had drawn to a close, the Line of Control remained active with sporadic incidents of cross-border violence. On 9 November 1999, the Pakistan Army launched an attack on an Indian post, preceded by a heavy artillery bombardment. The assault was repulsed, and to put an end to the frequent hostile actions the Indian Army decided to launch a well-coordinated offensive named 'Operation Birsa Munda', after the revered tribal freedom fighter and folk hero of the Munda tribe. Lance Naik Birendra Nath Tiwari was part of the Ghatak Team tasked for the operation under the leadership of Captain Gurjinder Singh. Launching the operation that same day, the team faced heavy artillery, mortar and small arms fire, compounded by heavy snowfall and poor visibility at the snowbound post located at a height of 11,200 feet. Undeterred, Lance Naik Tiwari and his comrades charged with fury onto the enemy bunkers. In the ensuing action, 17 enemy soldiers were killed, 14 bunkers destroyed and a large quantity of arms and ammunition captured. During the intense exchange of fire, Lance Naik Tiwari was hit by gunshots and severely wounded, and soon succumbed to his injuries. For his outstanding courage, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice in the finest traditions of the Indian Army, he was awarded the Mention-in-Despatches posthumously.