Lieutenant Sudhir Kumar Sonpar was leader of an armoured car troop of 5 Independent Armoured Squadron serving with the UN Forces in the Congo. On 15 December 1961, the troop was placed in fire support role of a company of3/1 Gorkha Rifles for their attack on a locality. The objective was captured in spite of heavy mortar shelling and automatic small arms fire by the enemy. Two armoured cars led by Lieutenant Sotlpar were sent out to silence the enemy fire. Two rounds fired upon him at close range by an enemy gun luckily missed his armoured car. With accurate fire he destroyed the enemy gun. He led his troop forward and silenced two more enemy mortars. 

Later, the same day the enemy launched a counter-attack supported with armoured cars. Lieutenant Sonpar quickly took up a fire position in his armoured car and fired three armoured -piercing shots in quick succession and blew up the enemy armoured car. 

The courage, initiative, self-confidence and determination with which Lieutenant Sonpar successfully commanded his troop in different actions under heavy enemy fire were in the best traditions of the Army.