Lance Havaldar Nar Bahadur Ale was born on 15 July 1954 in the hamlet of Kaitar in Nepal’s Dailekh district. L/Hav Nar Bahadur Ale, the son of Shri Bal Bahadur Ale, entered the Indian Army on 15 July 1972, when he was 18 years old. He was assigned to 3/4 GR battalion of the 4 Gorkha Rifles Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its valiant troops and a long history of several military accomplishments.
He married Ms Kamla Devi after serving for a period and the pair produced four daughters: Mina Kumar, Sushma Kumari, Sunita Kumari, and Mamta Kumari. By 1987, he had served for almost 15 years and been elevated to the rank of Lance Havaldar. He had already served in a variety of combat zones and had evolved into a battle-hardened soldier.
Operation Siachen: 23-24 September 1987
L/Hav Nar Bahadur Ale’s battalion was deployed to Siachen Glacier in September 1987 as part of Operation Meghdoot. In reaction to Pakistan’s misadventure in June 1987, the Indian Army took over Quaid Post at Bilafond La as part of ‘Operation Rajiv’ and renamed it ‘Bana Post’ in honour of Nb Sub Bana Singh of 8 JAK LI. Since then, enemy soldiers have continued to attack at regular intervals in an attempt to reclaim the lost territory. On 23 Sep 1987, another similar effort was undertaken when a concerted attack was conducted against the Indian Post at the Bilafond La complex. L/Hav Nar Bahadur Ale was the commander of the Bilafond La complex’s medium machine gun detachment. The enemy soldiers began intense bombardment and made an offensive simultaneously, which was repulsed in great part due to the precise and efficient firing of L/Hav Nar Bahadur’s medium machine gun.
Again, on 24 September l987, the opposing soldiers made an overwhelming onslaught. Despite intense artillery and missile fire, L/Hav Nar Bahadur’s detachment was able to neutralise the onslaught. However, a direct strike by an opposing artillery round rendered both members of his group unconscious. Despite his terrible injuries and copious bleeding, he took up the medium machine gun, shot from his hip, and broke the attack only 50 yards from the position, killing at least 15 enemy soldiers. Even after this, L/Hav Nar Bahadur refused to be evacuated and played a critical role in repelled two further attacks. He later died as a result of his injuries and was martyred. L/Hav Nar Bahadur was a valiant soldier who gave his life in the line of duty, upholding the Army’s finest traditions. L/Hav Nar Bahadur was presented with India’s second highest gallantry award, the “Maha Vir Chakra,” for his extraordinary bravery, commitment to duty, and great sacrifice.
His wife Smt Kamala Devi Ale and four daughters Mina Kumari, Sushma Kumari, Sunita Kumari, and Mamta Kumari survive him.
