<Tr> <Th> Battles / wars </Th> <Td> Congo Crisis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Awards </Th> <Td> Param Vir Chakra </Td> </Tr> <P> Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria, PVC (29 November 1935--5 December 1961) was an Indian Army officer and member of a United Nations peacekeeping force . He is the only UN peacekeeper to receive the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India's highest wartime military decoration . Singh was an alumnus of King George's Royal Military College and the National Defence Academy . He was the first NDA alumnus and only UN Peacekeeper to be awarded a PVC . </P> <P> In December 1961, Salaria was among the Indian troops deployed to the Republic of the Congo as part of the United Nations Operation in the Congo . On 5 December, Salaria's battalion was tasked to clear a roadblock of two armoured cars manned by 150 gendarmes of the secessionist State of Katanga on the way to the Elizabethville Airport . The plan was that Salaria and his men were to block their retreat . His rocket launcher team attacked and destroyed the Katangese armoured cars . This unforeseen move confused the gendarmerie, and Salaria felt it would be best to attack before they reorganised . Though his troops were badly outnumbered, they charged towards the Katangese and killed 40 men in a kukri assault . During the attack, Salaria was shot twice in the neck and eventually succumbed to his injuries . The remaining gendarmes fled in utter confusion leaving their dead and wounded behind . This helped the main battalion to easily overrun the Katangese and clear the roadblock . For his duty and courage, and disregard for his own safety during the battle, Salaria was awarded the Param Vir Chakra . </P>

Which soldier was awarded the param vir chakra after he was martyred during un peacekeeping mission