Gallant of Galwan: The story of Colonel B Santosh Babu, posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra

The locals call the River Shyok “the River of Death” because its dangerous currents can be deadly. On a dark night on 15 June 2020, its name held true as dozens of men were swallowed into its icy waters during a skirmish at Patrol Point 14 (PP 14), which is close to the confluence of the rivers, Shyok and Galwan.

Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu was in charge of the 16th Bihar Infantry Battalion (or the 16 Bihar) in June 2020. The battalion was stationed near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh as part of the “Operation Snow Leopard” mission. Babu’s task was to ensure that the Chinese did not cross PP 14 in the Galwan Valley. After the high-level talks that had taken place on 6 June between the two countries, the disengagement process at PP 14 had begun. The Chinese troops had dismantled their camp and withdrawn from their position.

However, on 14 June 2020, the Chinese troops returned. There was frenetic activity in the area as they erected tents and an observation post along the LAC on the Indian side. Soon, more troops joined them. This contravened the agreement that had been brokered on 6 June.

On the night...

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