Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, JULY 26
“MY son has become the son of the country,” said Neisielie Kenguruse, the aggrieved father of Capt Neikezhakuo Kenguruse, MVC, while paying rich tribute to the Kargil Hero on the occasion of the 15th Vijay Diwas at Phezha, Nerhema village, about 15 kms north of Kohima.
With tearful eyes, Neiselie recalled his son’s last letter wherein the fallen hero had written to his father “Dad, we have won the battle of Totolling and have captured many enemies’ arms and ammunition but also have lost many of my colleagues who are near and dear to me. I may not be able to return home to be a part of our family again. Even if I don’t make it, do not grieve for me because I have already decided to give my best for the nation. I request you to make a small firm memorial for me and do remember me.”
Neisielie is proud that his son had sacrificed his life for the nation and now had become the son of the country. He also conveyed solace and peace to the families of over 500 martyrs who had made the supreme sacrifice during the Kargil War.
Army and Assam Rifles personnel were led by GOC 3 Corps (Rangapahar, Dimapur) Lt. Gen. SL Narasimhan on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the GOC saluted the martyrs and said the sacrifice made by Captain Kenguruse will always be remembered.
“Such brave young men are rare to come back and he stands tall,” he said while recalling the manner in which Captain Kenguruse fought against the enemy and helped in achieving victory in the Kargil War.
“It continues to inspire the uniformed personnel till date,” he said while encouraging the local youth present to follow such path of bravery.
The General also acknowledged the father of the brave soldier saying “Your son has made not only Nagaland but the entire nation proud.”
He also saluted the 527 soldiers for making the supreme sacrifice for the country during the 1999 Kargil War.
On the occasion, the 11 Assam Rifles made a power-point presentation for the youth of Nagaland to motivate them to join the armed forces.
Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North) MM Naravane, other high ranking officers of Assam Rifles, Angami Public Organisation president Neingunyü Sekhose and ex-servicemen were also present on the observation organised by 5 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of IGAR (North).
During the event, the gathering was told about how Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse volunteered to undertake a daring commando mission of attacking a well-entrenched enemy machine gun position, on a cliff face, which was heavily interfering with all the approaches to the main objective of the battalion. As the commando team scaled the cliff face, it came under intense mortar and automatic fire, which caused heavy casualties.
The brave officer sustained splinter injury in his abdomen. Bleeding profusely yet undeterred, he urged his men to carry on with the assault, the gathering was told. On reaching the final cliff face, the commando team was halted by a sheer rock wall that separated them from the enemy machine gun post.
The officer took off his shoes to get a good grip and scaled the rock wall carrying with him a rocket launcher, which he fired at the enemy position.
The officer thereafter charged at the enemy position and personally killed two men with his rifle and another two with his commando knife in a hand to hand combat before succumbing to his injury.
By his dare devil act, Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse single handedly neutralized the enemy position, which had held up the battalion’s progress earlier.
Captain Neikezhakuo Kenguruse, son of Neisielie Kenguruse of Nerhema village, was born on July 15, 1974. He did his schooling at St. Xavier School in Jalukie and graduated from Kohima Science College. He served as a teacher in Government High School Kohima from 1994 to 1997.
He was commissioned into the Indian Army on December 12, 1998. On June 28, 1999, during the Kargil War with Pakistan, he attained martyrdom and posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra (MVC) for his gallant act.
