Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, the militant who turned soldier and attained martyrdom fighting terrorists last year in Jammu-Kashmir, will be posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra – the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
Wani, who surrendered before the Indian Army in 2004, eventually became one of the most decorated soldiers. He was awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry for the first time in 2007 and a Bar to the Sena Medal in August 2018.
“Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani exhibited the most conspicuous gallantry in personality eliminating two terrorists and assisting in the evacuation of his wounded colleagues and made supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Indian Army,” a press release from the President’s Secretariat said.
A resident of Kulgam, Wani was attached with the Territorial Army’s 162 Battalion since his surrender and participated in anti-terrorist operations all over Kashmir.
A serving #IndianArmy officer consoling father of Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad of 34 Rashtriya Rifles, who lost his life fighting terrorists in #Shopian in Kulgam district of J&K. #IndianArmy #SalutingtheBraveheart #Braveheart @PIB_India @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/k2Yklmf1Ev
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) November 28, 2018
In November 2018 Wani was operating with the 34 Rashtriya Rifles when the forces were sent to Batagund village upon information of the presence of six heavily armed Hizbul and Lashkar terrorists.
The terrorists tried to flee and opened fire at the forces. Undeterred by the firing, Wani, who was then 38, closed in on one of the terrorists hiding inside a house. A hand to hand combat resulted in the killing of the terrorist and injuries to Wani. The brave soldier succumbed to his injuries later.
In all, six terrorists were killed in the operation.
Wani is survived by a wife and two children aged 20 and 18 years.