Citation for Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) awarded to Lt. Col Arun Bhimrao Harolikar

Lieutenant Colonel Arun Bhimrao Harolikar who was commanding a Battalion of the 5th Gorkha Rifles was given the task of capturing an enemy position in the Eastern Sector. The enemy held a well fortified position with two companies covering all approaches. When two assaulting companies were held up due to intense enemy fire, Lieutenant Colonel Harolikar led the remaining battalion into assault along a difficult approach, behind the enemy. N the objective, he personally took part in hand to hand fighting and it was mainly due to him that the battalion captured the enemy position, the capture of this position resulted in the liberation of a large part o Pakistan occupied area and facilitated further operations by the brigade group. Later during the operations, he captured another enemy position. On the 7th December, 1971 after the landing by helicopters of this battalion in Sylhet, his defensive position was subjected to a series of well-coordinated counter attacks by the enemy. He repulsed the enemy attacks till the time brigade link up was successfully completed. The resolute action fought by the battalion under his inspiring leadership broke the enemy’s will to resist resulting in early surrender of the entire garrison of several thousand enemy personnel.

Throughout the operations, Lieutenant Colonel Arun Bhimrao Harolikar displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a very high order