Vijayakumar (40), a native of Vatrairuppu in Virudhunagar district, has been appointed as the Colonel of the Indian Army’s Ladakh Scouts unit. He assumed charge as the officer responsible for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
He joined the Army in 2008 after clearing a defence selection conducted jointly by the UPSC and the Indian Army. Over the years, he rose to the rank of Infantry Major and served in multiple postings including Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Wellington and the Western sector.
The report said he played a key role during the 2016 clash with China in the Galwan Valley. In 2018, he was selected for the United Nations peacekeeping mission and served in Sudan as a Lieutenant Colonel.
At a ceremony held in Jaipur, outgoing Colonel Ranjan Kumar handed over responsibilities to Vijayakumar and administered the oath of office. Speaking after taking charge, Vijayakumar said he was proud to be an example that people from rural backgrounds can reach high positions, adding that he studied in a government-aided school and urged government school students to pursue their studies with confidence.
