Captain AyushYadav hailed from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Son of Sri Arun Kant Yadav and Smt. Sarla, CaptAyush had two sisters as his siblings. Son of a UP Police Inspector, CaptAyush always wanted to serve in the Armed Forces since his childhood. His joy knew no bounds when he was selected for the prestigious NDA and then he went on to join the 134th course at Indian Military Academy on 30th Dec 2012.
Captain Ayush got commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery and was proud to be a gunner. During 2017, he was serving with 310 Med Regt which was deployed in the Kupwara sector of J & K. Captain Ayush was a keen boxer and had won many competitions during his school days. He was a committed soldier and a fine officer, who was equally liked by his seniors and men under him.
The Kupwara Attack : 27 Apr 2017
During 2017, Captain Ayush Yadav’s unit was based in the Army garrison located at Panzgam in Kupwara district, about 120 km from Srinagar. Kupwara is one of the most frequented infiltration routes used by militants to cross the Line of Control, especially after the snow starts melting On 27 Apr 2017, three armed militants descended down the wooded mountains and tiptoed towards the Army garrison at Panzgam at 4.30 am. They hurled grenades and started indiscriminate firing after cutting through two barbed wire fences from the rear side of the camp. When they began cutting the fence, soldiers on duty noticed the suspicious activity and challenged them. The three militants taken by surprise fired at the guards and tried to rush towards the living quarters.
Captain Ayush Yadav was woken up by the deafening sound of gunfire and sensed something ominous. He threw his blanket away , grabbed his AK 47 and rushed out. Captain Ayush Yadav realized the gravity of the situation fired at the terrorists, who were inching towards the living quarters. During the exchange of fire, Captain Ayush got hit by the bullets and was seriously injured. However, despite his injuries, Captain Ayush Yadav didn’t allow the militants to proceed towards the living quarters and provided the crucial time for the quick reaction team to engage the terrorists. However, Captain Ayush Yadav later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred at the age of 26 years.
Captain Ayush Yadav was a valiant soldier and an officer par excellence who laid down his life in the service of the nation. He is survived by his father Sri Arun Kant Yadav, mother Smt. Sarla Yadav and sister Rupal.