Anuj Nayyar was born on 28 August 1975 and grew up in Delhi. His father, Satish Kumar Nayyar, worked as a visiting professor in Delhi School of Economics while his mother, Meena Nayyar, worked for the South Campus library of Delhi University. He was a bright student who performed well in academics and sports. Nayyar received his high-school education in Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi. He graduated from the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into 17 Jat Regiment in June 1997.
In May 1999, a tip-off by a local shepherd to Captain Saurabh Kalia led to the exposure of infiltration by Pakistan in Kargil. The Indian Army realised that the intruders were Pakistan Army and para-military personnel dressed as locals. The plan was to occupy about 15 to 20 peaks.
The terrain was rugged with very few tracks and covered with snow making movement difficult. Pakistan Army believed that the Indian Army would be slow and limited. Apart from keeping the plan top secret, the Pakistan Army also undertook certain steps to maximise deception. No new administrative bases for the intrusions were created. Along the ridgelines, there were the logistic lines of communication and the nullahs (small streams) were far away from the tracks.
In early May only Zoji La pass was opened for the troops. If the actions of intruders were effective then it would allow Pakistani troops to secure some dominating heights from where movement on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway 1A might be prohibited. Armed personnel from Pakistan were occupying heights. Climbing and neutralising them was tough, militarily and physically. The Pakistani army was aiming for an upper hand in Kashmir and plunging the Indian subcontinent in brief and limited war and raising the spectre of nuclear war.
In May 1999, Operation Vijaya was launched by the Indian Army and about 200,000 troops were mobilised. On 13 June 1999, the first major ridgeline to fall was Tololing in the Drass sub-sector which was captured after weeks. It was followed by capture of Tiger Hill and Point 4875. Point 4875 was re-named as “Gun Hill” in honour of the astounding performance of the Gunners in the Drass and Mashkoh sub-sectors.
Nayyar’s first major operation involved securing Pimple II, a peak on the western slopes. In a last-ditch attempt, C Coy, 17 Jat, of which Nayyar was the second-in-command, decided to secure the peak without waiting for any aerial support on 6 July. Anuj packed his bag even before he was asked.
With his company commander injured, command devolved upon him. As the unit advanced under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire, the lead section reported the location of 3-4 enemy bunkers. Nayyar destroyed the first bunker with a rocket launcher and grenades. He killed 9 Pakistani soldiers and destroyed three medium machine gun bunkers. The company then began its assault on the last remaining bunker, but an enemy Rocket Propelled Grenade directly hit Nayyar. A grievously injured Capt. Nayyar continued to lead his company. He succumbed but not before clearing the last bunker on Point 4875. Pimple II was captured on 8 July but Capt Nayyar paid with supreme sacrifice.
Forty-six soldiers of the Pakistan Army, an unknown number of Pakistani paramilitary troopers and militants were killed. None from Capt. Nayyar’s team of Charlie Company survived the battle. The securing of Pimple Complex paved the way for the recapture of Tiger Hill that forced Pakistan to beat a retreat.
Nayyar was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery and leadership in combat. Nayyar’s father, S.K. Nayyar, was allotted a gas station in Delhi by the Government of India in recognition of the services of his son. Tejbir Singh, a fellow soldier of the Jat Regiment, named his son Anuj in honour of Nayyar. A road in Janakpuri area of New Delhi, was named as “Captain Anuj Nayyar Marg’’.