Colonel Ivan Joseph Crasto (R)
Kirti Chakra
1 PARA SF
His roots were from Goa, but he spent his childhood in Mt Abu, Rajasthan. He would have become a lawyer if his father, a Naval Officer hadn’t coerced him to follow his elder brother into NDA.
He was commissioned into 1 PARA (SF) on 10th June 1978. Besides topping the Commando course, he was the best YO (Young Officer) with best grades in all professional courses.
As a combat free-faller, he also participated in National Sky-Diving Championship.
In 1990, he served as an Instructor in Tanzania Military Academy
and toured Africa, Europe, Canada and the USA.
After graduating from the Defence Services Staff College, he spent three years at the Army headquarters in the Military Operations Directorate.
October 1992 - Timber Trail Rescue
It is an mountain resort in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh which is 35 Kms from Chandigarh.
Then, the resort's main attraction was cable car.
On 13th Oct 1992, the 'B' cable car carrying 10 passengers hung perilously as it's cable broke down.
It's wheels start emitting fumes and fire and the passengers including a 4 yr old boy got frightened.
The 10 tourists were suspended to life and death over the height of 1,300 ft.
At 6 p.m., the hotel management approached the army brigade at Kasauli, 30 km away, for help.
Then Major Crasto, had just returned from Goa after attending his mother's funeral.
He along with some daredevils of IAF,
Gp Capt (later Chieft of Air Staff)
Fali Homi Major, Wg Cdr Subash Chander, Flt Lt (later Gp Capt) P Upadhay reached the site in a M-17 chopper.
On next day, it was a bad weather but somehow, the chopper reached the site.
The chopper was unable to go close to the cable cars due to electricity wires.
Then Maj Crasto made a daredevil decision. He jumped from the chopper on the top of wildly slaying cable car.
He opened the rooftop of cable car and slid into it.
Then he hauled load of food and essentials. He spent the night in it, comforting the terrified passengers.
5 passengers were rescued by Cheetah and Chetak helicopters earlier. The rest was rescued by Maj Crasto step by step.
"I have two kids at home and the fact that I am staying on means there is nothing to worry,” he comforted and rescued them.
Maj Crasto was awarded the Kirti Chakra, Gp Capt F.H. Major & Wg Cdr Subash of 152 HU, the Shaurya Chakra and Ft Lt P Upadhyay, the Vayu Sena Medal.
Maj Crasto later became CO of 21 PARA SF.
After serving for over 2 decades, he retired.
He initially moved to Goa where he wanted his children to grow up.
And later he moved to Sydney, Australia where he is teaching Maths at Western Sydney High School.
Thanking
Brigadier Bhupesh Singh Hada
SC, VSM
Force Commander - NSG / 10 PARA (SF)
for his 33 years of devoted service to the Nation
He got superannuated from the Indian Army today.
Brig Hada was commissioned into the Madras Regiment in 1991 after passing out from IMA.
Brig Bhupesh Hada was born on 30 June, 1970 in Bundi, Rajasthan.
His father Shri Vijay Raj Singh Hada was an educationist and a social worker of repute.
After his schooling, he joined the NDA, and later passed out from IMA in 1991.
Afterwards, he joined the Para Commando.
During his 3 decades of distinguished service, he has contributed in various operations like Op Rhino, Orchid, Rakshak, Kargil-Vijay, Parakaram, Falcon and Meghdoot. He has trained extensively with the IAF, Navy, various CAPF and with the armies of friendly foreign countries.
"When he became a colonel, he gave me a beautiful gift, that she will remember him as a brave person who died fighting for his country." Said Smt Santoshi, w/o
Col Santosh Babu,
Mahavir Chakra (P)
16 BIHAR.
Today is 3rd Balidan Diwas of Col Santosh Babu. A thread on him👇🏼
Col Bikumalla Santosh Babu was born on 13th Feb 1983 in Suryapet district of Telangana to Shri Bikumalla Upender Babu, a banker and Smt Manjula.
While studying in the Sainik School, Korukonda his inclination towards the Armed Forces grew and he joined 105th course of NDA in 2000.
He was commissioned into 16 BIHAR from IMA in 2004 and his first posting was in J&K.
He was selected to attend DSS College at Wellington and later was deputed in Rashtriya Rifles.
He got married to Ms. Santoshi and the couple had a daughter Abhija and a son Anirudh Teja.
On 13th June, 1997 Capt Manjinder Singh Bhinder of 61 CAVALRY with his wife Jyot-Roop and four years old son Ruskin, went to see the film “Border” in Uphaar Cinema in Green Park area, New Delhi. While the movie was on, the Hall caught fire.
With poor fire-fighting equipment and exit arrangements, people got trapped inside. Capt Bhinder sent his friend Capt Pattu to get outside help, while he decided to stay inside, to help frantic crowd keep calm and take them out gradually in order. He moved 150 lives to safety.
Unfortunately, he himself and his family succumbed to the tragic death that was the fate of many who were trapped inside, as it became difficult to get proper help.
Capt. Bhinder along with his family died a heroic death in the fire that broke out at the Uphaar Cinema in Delhi.
He was posted in Sri Lanka during Op Pawan as a personal bodyguard of an Indian General. Once he was sitting in an open jeep, an LTTE terrorist threw a grenade at the jeep. He caught it and threw it back to the terrorist. The terrorist died.
Due to the grenade explosion his head was blown off into pieces. After this, he was nick-named ‘Cobra’ by his colleagues.
Later in the same Operation, he was assigned to rescue 36 Indian soldiers captured by LTTE. He sailed the river, saved soldiers and killed 39 militants.
Naik Digendra Kumar was awarded Sena Medal in 1993 for his anti-terrorist operations in the Kupwara area of Jammu-Kashmir.
In 1994, his services were appreciated for recapturing the Hazratbal Shrine from terrorists.
“You should feel proud of me. I am contributing something for the nation in this uniform I have worn. Being a company commander at this time is the greatest experience one can have.”
Commissioned on 13 June 1992 into 2 RAJ RIF, and sacrificed his life to Nation on 13 June 1999.
MAJOR VIVEK GUPTA
MVC (P)
2 RAJ RIF
'Vicky' was born on 2nd Jan 1972 in Dehradun to Lt Col BRS Gupta (R).
He got inspiration to join the Army from his father, and was commissioned in 1992
Major Vivek got married to an Army Officer, Capt Rajshree Bisht in 1997.
He was also awarded COAS Commendation for killing Pak terrorist in hand-to-hand combat.
Recognizing his outstanding skills he was soon sent to Infantry School, Mhow, as a weapon instructor.
During Kargil War in 1999, he played a significant role in capturing of Tololing Top.
"When he became a colonel, he gave me a beautiful gift, that she will remember him as a brave person who died fighting for his country." Said Smt Santoshi, w/o
Col Santosh Babu,
Mahavir Chakra (P)
16 BIHAR.
Today is 40th Birth Anniversary of Col Santosh Babu.
A thread on him👇🏼
Col Bikumalla Santosh Babu was born on 13th Feb 1983 in Suryapet district of Telangana to Shri Bikumalla Upender Babu, a banker and Smt Manjula.
While studying in the Sainik School, Korukonda his inclination towards the Armed Forces grew and he joined 105th course of NDA in 2000.
He was commissioned into 16 BIHAR from IMA in 2004 and his first posting was in J&K.
He was selected to attend DSS College at Wellington and later was deputed in Rashtriya Rifles.
He got married to Ms. Santoshi and the couple had a daughter Abhija and a son Anirudh Teja.