Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani has been posthumously awarded ‘Ashok Chakra’, India’s highest peace time gallantry award for his role in a counter-insurgency operation in Kashmir last year. He is Kashmir’s first Ashok Chakra awardee and was also awarded Sena Medal for gallantry twice in 2007 and 2018 for his acts of valour.
The award will be presented by President Ram Nath Kovind to his wife Mrs. Mahajabeen at the Republic Day parade on Saturday.
On November 25, 2018 Lance Naik Wani was taking part in a counter terrorist operation against six terrorists in Hirapur village near Batgund, Kashmir. Under intense hail of bullets from the terrorists he eliminated the district commander of the LeT and one foreign terrorist in an act of raw courage.
“In the ensuing gunfight he was hit multiple times including his head. He also injured another terrorist before succumbing to his grievous injuries,” the Army said in a statement.
A resident of Cheki Ashmuji of Kulgam district Jammu and Kashmir, he joined the Army’s 162 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) in Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry in 2004. His courage got his recognition very quickly with the Sena Medal for Gallantry in 2007. The 2018 Sena Medal was given for eliminating one terrorist from a very close distance, the Army stated.
To fight the onslaught of Pakistan supported terrorist outfits, he operated with Rashtriya Rifles units in Kashmir, the Army statement said and added, “Throughout his active life he always willingly faced grave potential threats and was a source of inspiration for others.”
Lance Naik Wani comes from a humble background and had worked for the benefit of the underprivileged section in his village and surrounding area.
Apart from his wife, he is survived by two sons Athar (20) and Shaid (18).
