NEW DELHI: Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, a surrendered militant who became a soldier, will be posthumously awarded India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra, on Republic Day for his courage during a fierce encounter in which six terrorists were killed in Kashmir last November.
Wani belonged to an army unit raised 15 years ago with surrendered militants as an experiment to rewrite the rules of counterterror operations in Kashmir.
President Ram Nath Kovind will present the award to Wani’s wife, Mahajabeen Wani, at the 70th Republic Day parade, the army said on Thursday. Wani, who was 38 when he died, will be the first soldier from Kashmir to be awarded the Ashok Chakra. Thus far, 88 individuals have been awarded the Ashok Chakra; of these 68 have been awarded posthumously.
Exactly two months ago, on November 25, 2018, the army received intelligence on the presence of six heavily-armed terrorists at Hirapur village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.
Wani and his squad were asked to block the terrorists’ most likely escape route, a standard drill during such operations.
The soldiers closed in on the target house and positioned themselves to engage the terrorists at close range.
“Sensing danger, the terrorists attempted breaching the inner cordon, firing indiscriminately and lobbing grenades. Undeterred by the situation, L/Nk Nazir held ground and eliminated one hard core terrorist [a district commander of LeT] in a fierce exchange at close range,” said a notification issued by the President’s secretariat on Wednesday.
Nazir’s second kill followed a few minutes later when he fearlessly stormed into the house, amid bullets and grenades flying around him.
“Seeing the foreign terrorist escaping from the window, he [Wani] encountered him in a hand to hand combat situation. Despite being severely wounded, L/Nk Nazir eliminated the terrorist,” the notification added.
In the ensuing gun battle, Wani was hit multiple times, and took a shot to the head, army officials said. Bleeding heavily, the soldier continued to engage the remaining terrorists and injured a third one at close range. His action helped his squad kill the remaining terrorists. Wani even helped evacuate his wounded colleagues before succumbing to his injuries. This was not the first time Wani demonstrated courage in combat, according to army officials. He was twice decorated with the Sena Medal.
‘Under hail of bullets, Lance Naik Wani eliminated Lashkar dist commander’
RINAGAR : The day Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani was killed in a gunfight with militants, he had managed to eliminate two terrorists including a Pakistani, in a fist fight. For his bravery, Wani, who was earlier associated with Ikhwan (a group of militants who turned counter insurgents in mid 1990s) before joining the Indian Army, is the first Kashmiri to get the Ashok Chakra–India’s highest peace time gallantry award, posthumously.
“President Ram Nath Kovind will present the award to Wani’s wife Mahajabeen on the Republic Day in New Delhi,” army spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.
A neighbour of his family in south Kashmir’s Kulgam said Wani’s family had left for New Delhi a few days ago to receive the award.
Wani was killed in a fierce gun battle with militants on November 25, 2018 in Shopian district ,in which six militants were also killed including three district commanders – two of Hizbul Mujahideen and one of Lashkare-Taiba.
“Under intense hail of bullets from the terrorists Wani eliminated the district commander of the LeT and one foreign terrorist in a very daring display of raw courage,” Colonel Kalia said, while describing Wani as “Kashmir’s seasoned warrior”.
Wani sustained bullet injuries during the encounter and was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to 92 Base Hospital, but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
Wani joined the Indian Army’s 162 Infantry Battalion Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, in 2004. He was operating with 36 RR when he lost his life in the encounter. A press release from the President’s Secretariat said that the award was approved for Wani for his act of “most conspicuous gallantry”. It stated how “swiftly” he moved with his team and eliminated a militant who was “firing indiscriminately and lobbing grenades” while attempting to “breach the inner cordon”.
Wani further closed in towards the target house under heavy fire and hurled grenades. “Seeing the foreign terrorist escaping from the window, he encountered him in a hand to hand combat situation. Despite being severely wounded, Wani eliminated the terrorist,” the communiqué from the secretariat said.
Wani was 38 and belonged to Cheki Ashmuji village of Kulgam Tehsil. He was a highly decorated soldier who was awarded Sena Medal twice. “The 2018 Sena Medal was given for eliminating a terrorist from a very close distance.…To fight the onslaught of Pakistan supported terrorist outfits, he operated with Rashtriya Rifles units in Kashmir. He always willingly faced grave potential threats ,” Kalia said.
“He was mindful of the problems of his village and surrounding areas. He had also done acts of selfless service in the area he belonged to. His heroic efforts during operations will be a beacon of light for the youth of Kashmir,” he said.
