Terrorist-turned-soldier Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed Wani, who died fighting ultras in Kashmir last year, will be conferred with the highest peacetime gallantry medal Ashok Chakra on Republic Day this year. Wani was a surrendered terrorist before becoming a soldier in 2004. Earlier, the 38-year-old soldier was awarded Sena Medal twice in 2007 and 2018 for showing exemplary bravery in anti-terrorist operations.
Hailing from Ashmuji in Kulgam, Kashmir, Wani died on November 25 during a fierce gunfight and hand-to- hand combat with militants in Shopian. He was part of anti-terrorist operations in South Kashmir and had joined 162 Battalion of Territorial Army after surrendering as a terrorist. He is the first Kashmiri soldier to be awarded the highest peacetime gallantry award. His wife, Mahajabeen, will receive the award from President Ramnath Kovind on January 26 at Rajpath.
Wani exhibited the most conspicuous gallantry in 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 communiqué from the President’s Secretariat said.
Giving details of the encounter wherein Wani attained martyrdom, officials said here on Thursday he was attached with 34 Rashtriya Rifles; on November 23 his unit got an intelligence input about the presence of six heavily armed Hizbul and Lashkar terrorists at Batagund village.
Wani and his team were entrusted with the task to block the likely escape route of the terrorists.
“Sensing danger, the terrorists attempted breaching the inner cordon, firing indiscriminately and lobbing grenades. Undeterred by the situation, Wani held ground and eliminated one terrorist in a fierce exchange at close range,” the statement said.
Wani then closed in on a house where another terrorist was hiding. As the terrorist tried to flee, Wani engaged him in a hand-to-hand combat. Despite being wounded, he killed the terrorist.
Under intense hail of bullets from the terrorists, he eliminated the district commander of the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) and one foreign terrorist in an act of raw courage. “In the ensuing gunfight he was hit multiple times, including on his head. He also injured another terrorist before succumbing to his grievous injuries,” the Army said in a statement.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
Army officials said here throughout his life, Wani willingly faced grave potential threats and was a source of inspiration for others. Incidentally, he was awarded the Sena Medal last year for eliminating a terrorist from very close range.
Wani was from a humble background and had worked for the benefit of the underprivileged section in his village and surrounding area, officials added.