Kumandur Prabhakar Vinay

Major Kumandur Prabhakar Vinay was born on 18 March 1977 to Shri K. R. Prabhakar and Smt. Jaishree Prabhakar. He hailed from Bengaluru, Karnataka, and joined the National Defence Academy in 1994. He was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery in 1999.

During his military career, he served with 53 Medium Regiment and 37 Medium Regiment before being deputed to Rashtriya Rifles for counter-insurgency duties in Jammu and Kashmir. The Government of India’s gallantry award record identifies him with the Regiment of Artillery and 34 Rashtriya Rifles at the time of his posthumous award.

On 02 October 2007, Major Vinay took part in a counter-terrorism operation in Baramulla district. While leading his troops, he sustained fatal gunshot wounds but continued to lead the operation despite his injuries. He later succumbed to those wounds.

In recognition of his conspicuous courage and leadership, Major Kumandur Prabhakar Vinay was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra in 2008.