Major Dhan Singh Thapa of 1/8 Gorkha Rifles held a forward post at Sirijap, Ladakh, through three attacks on 20 October 1962 and was captured.
Forward post at Sirijap
Artillery and mortar fire fell on the forward post at Sirijap, Ladakh, on 20 October 1962, before Chinese infantry attacked in overwhelming strength. Major Dhan Singh Thapa of 1/8 Gorkha Rifles commanded the post.
His men, greatly outnumbered, drove back the first attack. After more shelling, the second came in greater numbers, and it too was repulsed with heavy losses.
The third attack brought tanks in support of the infantry. Casualties had already thinned the post, but it held out until it was overrun. Thapa left his trench and fought hand to hand until he was overpowered.
Presumed dead, found captive
The Ministry of Defence profile records that the Param Vir Chakra was first awarded posthumously, and that it was later learnt he was alive and held by the Chinese.
He returned to duty after his release, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. A photograph in the profile shows him receiving the medal from President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
Thapa was born on 28 April 1928 in Shimla, and was commissioned into 1/8 Gorkha Rifles on 28 August 1949. He died at the age of 77.
The citation
Major Dhan Singh Thapa (IC-7990) 1/8 Gorkha Rifles (Effective date of award- 20 October 1962)
Major Dhan Singh Thapa was in command of a forward post in Ladakh. On 20 October 1962, it was attacked by the Chinese in overwhelming strength after being subjected to intensive artillery and mortar bombardment. Under his gallant command the greatly outnumbered post repulsed the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the aggressors. The enemy attacked again in greater numbers after heavy shelling by artillery and mortar fire. Under the leadership of Major Thapa, his men repulsed this attack also with heavy losses to the enemy.
The Chinese attacked for the third time, now with tanks to support their infantry. The post had already suffered large casualties in the earlier attacks. Though considerably thinned, it held out to the last. When it was finally over-run by overwhelming numbers of Chinese, Major Thapa got out of his trench and lulled several enemy soldiers in hand-to-hand fighting before he was eventually overpowered by Chinese soldiers.
Major Thapa's cool courage, conspicuous fighting qualities and leadership were in the highest traditions of our Army.
Source: Ministry of Defence gallantry awards record. Reproduced as printed, including any errors in the original.
Cover image: Krishna Chaitanya Velaga (KCVelaga), own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized for this page. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Major_Dhan_Singh_Thapa_statue_at_Param_Yodha_Sthal_Delhi.jpg