Arun Khetarpal was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest wartime military honor, posthumously. Laying down his life at 21, Arun Khetarpal is among the youngest recipients of the Param Vir Chakra. The acts of valor by 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal have resonated through the decades.
Arun Khetarpal Last Words
‘No sir, I will not abandon my tank’. “My main gun is still working, and I will get these bastards,” were the final words of the brave Indian soldier that echoed in the ears of the superior officer over the radio. But not just him; his bravery even made an echo across the borders and reached his killer’s ears.
Arun Khetarpal Caste
Arun Khetarpal was born into a Punjabi Hindu Khatri family. Originally from Sargodha in west Punjab, his family migrated to India at the time of partition. The surname Khetarpal is associated with the Khatri caste, and both Punjabi Hindus and Sikhs use this surname.
Arun Khetarpal Family
Arun Khetarpal was born on 14 October 1950 in Pune, Maharashtra, into a Punjabi Hindu Khatri family. His family originally hailed from Sargodha in western Punjab and had migrated to India at partition as refugees.
Arun Khetarpal Wife
Arun Khetarpal was never married as such; he did not have a wife.
Arun Khetarpal Father
The father of Arun Khetarpal, Lt Col (later Brigadier) M. L. Khetarpal, was also an officer serving in the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army, and his family had a long history of military service his grandfather having fought in WW1 and his great-grandfather having served in the Sikh Khalsa Army.
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Arun Khetarpal Death Reason
Arun Khetarpal died in action during the Battle of Basantar in the 1971 Indo-Pak War when his tank was hit a second time. His first tank was hit and caught fire, but he continued fighting after being severely wounded, destroying one more enemy tank before the final, fatal hit.
Arun Khetarpal Regiment
Arun Khetarpal’s regiment was the 17 Poona Horse of the Indian Army; he was commissioned into it on June 13, 1971. He fought with this regiment during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War and posthumously earned the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery during the Battle of Basantar.
Arun Khetarpal Tank Name
Famagusta was the name of this tank, led by Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. The serial number of the Centurion tank with which Khetarpal went into battle was Jx 202. The tank was named after a town in Cyprus where the 17 Poona Horse regiment had been stationed.
Arun Khetarpal died
Arun Khetarpal died on 16 December 1971. A
Arun Khetarpal Movie
Arun Khetarpal Movie directed by Sriram Raghavan, Ikkis is Agastya Nanda’s forthcoming film as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, a decorated Indian Army officer and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, who showed exemplary bravery during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
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