Lieutenant Natarajan Parthiban was an officer of the Indian Army belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. He was born on 21 August 1983 and hailed from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He came from a military family; his father, Major V. Natarajan, was a retired Army officer.
Lieutenant Parthiban was pursuing an M.Sc. in Physics when he received the opportunity to join the Officers Training Academy. He chose a career in the Armed Forces and was commissioned on 18 March 2006. After commissioning, he was posted to the 5th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry.
In 2006, 5 JAK LI was deployed in the Gurez Sector of Jammu & Kashmir, an area along the Line of Control where infiltration attempts and counter-infiltration operations were taking place. Lieutenant Parthiban was serving as a post commander in the sector.
On 07 October 2006, his unit received information regarding heavily armed terrorists attempting to cross the Line of Control through the forested area. Lieutenant Parthiban led his team towards the suspected hideout and organised his men to provide covering fire while he and another soldier moved closer to the terrorists.
When the terrorists suddenly opened fire from behind boulders, Lieutenant Parthiban sustained severe gunshot injuries. Despite being critically wounded, he continued the engagement and charged the terrorists in close combat. He killed two terrorists before succumbing to his injuries.
For his exceptional courage, leadership and supreme sacrifice, Lieutenant Natarajan Parthiban was awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously.