23/10/2022
This write-up is dedicated to Second Lieutenant Viney Kaul, for his services in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 on the Western front. Unfortunately, he was killed in action which was illegal as Pakistan had violated the orders of ceasefire that was declared on the 17th of December, 1971.
Second Lieutenant Viney Kaul was born in Amritsar in the month of August, 1950, in the family of father Shri Kesho Ram and mother Smt Rajkumari Kaul. Young Vinay Kaul was the youngest of his 2 brothers and a sister. His father was the Chief Controller of Northern Railway in the British Indian Railways. Since his school time, he was in the National Cadet Corps and even when he joined University, he stayed in the NCC. Following his Bachelors, he got admitted in Punjab University to do his Masters in Geology, but he left his studies as he got a chance at Officer’s Training Academy in Chennai in 1970.
He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 165 Field Regiment on the 14th of March, 1971. He had topped the ‘Young Officer’s’ course, becoming a Silver Gunner. Back in 1971, the 165 Field Regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel SF Rodrigues.
When war broke out with Pakistan on the 3rd of December, 1971, the 165 Field Regiment was serving in the Fazilka sector on the Western front. Through the Suleimanki headworks, the Pakistani army had entered about 7 kilometers into India and had captured the villages of Beriwala, Gurmi, Khera and Pakka in the Fazilka sector. The 4 Jat, the 15 Rajput and the 3 Assam were initially subjected to heavy Pakistani assaults, but fought gallantly and repulsed the enemy from the enemy. The 165 Field Regiment provided artillery support to these 3 Battalions in the entire duration of the battle. Second Lieutenant Viney Kaul took part in the artillery offensives against the Pakistanis. After Pakistan lost the war and the ceasefire was declared on the 17th of December, Second Lieutenant Viney Kaul was tasked to command one of the Artillery Observation Posts in the Jalalabad-Fazilka sector as border tensions were high despite victory.
Unfortunately, on the 4th of January, 1972, Pakistan had violated the ceasefire and started shelling Indian posts all over the Fazilka sector. Soon, Pakistani infantry started moving in and started attacking these posts. Second Lieutenant Viney Kaul’s artillery observation post came under heavy fire and he led the retaliation against the incoming hordes of Pakistani soldiers. Unfortunately, artillery shelling around the post injured the radio operator of Second Lieutenant Viney Kaul alongside him. Soon, Second Lieutenant Viney Kaul succumbed to his injuries from splinters and passed away on the battlefield.
Second Lieutenant Viney Kaul was killed just at the age of 21. The attack by the enemy was illegal, violating the ceasefire that led to the death of such an officer and many more gallant men of the Indian army.
My salutes to Second Lieutenant Viney Kaul.
Jai Hind.
