Indian Air Force Garud Commando, Jyoti Prakash Nirala, will be awarded the Ashok Chakra, posthumously, on the 69th Republic Day. It is the first time a Garud commando has been awarded the Ashok Chakra.

Corporal Nirala, a resident of Rohtas district in Bihar, was on posted strength of the Garud Special Forces Unit of the Indian Air Force, under Op Rakshak.

He was part of the operations considered to be one of the most successful, crucial and one of the biggest set backs to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

Corporal Nirala displayed exceptional battle craft in an offensive that was based on specific intelligence. He single-handedly eliminated three of the six terrorists considered the top leader of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), who were hiding in a house in Chandergeer, a village in Hajin area in Bandipore, Jammu and Kashmir.

Six militants were killed in this joint operation of a detachment of the Garud Special Force attached with Rashtriya Rifles that took place on On November 18, 2017. These six terrorists included Owaid -- nephew of Zaki-ur Rahman-Lakhvi, the mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

Corporal Nirala positioned himself close to the approach of the hideout in a covert approach of the Garud detachment. This way, he cut off all possibilities of an escape of the terrorists, in a close quarter ambush that demanded expectational courage and acumen. The six terrorists rushed out from the hideout shooting and lobbying grenades at the Garuds in the waiting ambush. Corporal Nirala retaliated and opened a lethal attack. He gunned down two and injured two terrorists. Critically injured in the violent gunfire that unfolded in retaliation, he continued the offence. Corporal Nirala succumbed to his injuries. He displayed most conspicuous gallantry in fighting with the terrorists and made the supreme sacrifice.

Major Vijayant Bist has been awarded the Kirti Chakra for displaying conspicuous gallantry while eliminating two terrorists and saving the life of a comrade in an ambush he was leading in Chorgali forest, Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. Major Vijayant had spotted infiltration on June 6, 2017. Immediately engaging the terrorists, which led to an intense firefight, and a resulting infiltration into Goalta forest, he tracked and engaged them in a fierce gun battle on June 7. While closing in on the terrorists, his comrade got injured. Despite the heavy fire, Major Vijayant crawled and pulled his comrade to safety. The terrorists continued to engage the patrol. Major Vijayant continued to press the escaping terrorists. He motivated his team to continue searching for the terrorists for the next 48 hours under adverse weather conditions, displaying astonishing physical and mental perseverance. On June 9 the terrorists were sighted again. Major Vijayant neutralised one terrorist and engaged and eliminated another at point blank range.

On the eve of the 69th Republic Day, President Ramnath Kovind approved 390 Gallantry and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others. These include one Ashok Chakra, one Kirti Chakra, 14 Shaurya Chakras, 28 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 49 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 10 Yudh Seva Medals, 86 Sena Medals (Gallantry), one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), three Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry), 38 Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), 13 Nao Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), 14 Vayu Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty) and 121 Vishisht Seva Medals and other honours.

Among the 14 Shaurya Chakras, eight, this year, will be awarded to officers and soldiers in anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. These include Major Akhil Raj RV, Capt Rohit Shukla, Captain Abhinav Shukla, Capt Pradeep Shoury Arya, Hav Mubarik Ali, Hav Rabindra Thapa, NK Narender Singh and L/Nk Badher Hussain.

Corporal Nilesh Kumar Nayan has been awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously. Deployed with Rashtriya Rifles in a counter insurgency role in Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir, he was in action in the inner cordon laid at night on October 10, 2017, along with his track leader as stop party towards a rear end of a target house. The cordon was laid for search operations after specific intelligence inputs, on the outskirts of Hajin village. On October 11, at 0440 hours, five to six heavily armed terrorists charged out from the hideout, lobbying grenades and firing from their automatic weapons. Corporal Nayan retaliated. The heavy gun battle helped contain the six terrorists. Corporal Nayan's track leader was injured by bullet and shrapnel. Rising to ensure the safety of his comrade, Corporal Nayan opened covering fire. This led to massive fire in his direction from the six terrorists. Corporal Nayan stood his ground displaying indomitable courage and killed one terrorist despite the serious injuries. The remaining terrorists closed in on him. Corporal Nayan fired at another terrorist and injured him. He made the supreme sacrifice, displaying raw courage, highest order of camaraderie and total disregard to personal safety.

Sergeant Khairnar Milind Kishor will be awarded Shaurya Chakra (posthumous). On October 10, 2017, Sergeant Milind, deployed with Rashtriya Rifles in counter insurgency role in Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir, lead the attack against terrorists in the inner cordon of a stop party at the rear end of a target house. The cordon, laid in a search operation after specific inputs, was blocking the escape route of terrorists. Five to six terrorists stormed out of the hideout, using grenades and automatic weapons, charging at the cordon. Sergeant Milind retaliated and was hit back by intense and concentrated fire. The air warrior displayed a total disregard for personal safety and held his position to continue his offence and maintained precise fire. He killed one and injured one terrorist. The remaining terrorists closed in on Sergeant Milind. He was critically injured in dense firing. The courageous Sergeant Milind was evacuated to 92 base hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. He made the supreme sacrifice, displaying bravery of the highest order and total disregard for personal safety.

Among the brave heroes awarded the Shaurya Chakra is Paratrooper Manchu of the Special Forces -- deployed in Mon district, Nagaland.

The Ashoka Chakra Class-I, the Ashoka Chakra Class-II and the Ashoka Chakra Class-III were instituted by the Government of India on 4th January, 1952, which were deemed to have effect from the 15th August, 1947. These awards were renamed as the Ashoka Chakra, the Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra, respectively, in January, 1967.

Swarajya salutes the brave men for their supreme sacrifice and courage.

Nilesh Kumar Nayan

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