A highly reputed Army officer from Jammu and Kashmir was killed on Sunday, during a heavy gun battle with a group of militants from Hizbul Mujahedeen and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Shopian district.
Lance Naik Nazir Wani, who was killed in an encounter with terrorists November last, will be the first Army officer from Kashmir to be honoured with prestigious Ashok Chakra. A decorated Army officer from Jammu and Kashmir, Wani will be awarded Ashok Chakra posthumously.
The honour comes nearly two months after Wani was martyred in a gunfight with terrorists in Shopian.
Once a terrorist, Wani had joined the Territorial Army's 162 Infantry Battalion and was a decorated officer. Wani will be conferred the award posthumously on Saturday by President Ram Nath Kovind.
Lance Naik Wani hailed from Chek-Ashmuji village and joined militancy in his early age. On realising the futility of violence, in 2004, joined the Territorial Army's 162 Infantry Battalion, which mainly comprises Ikhwanis -- terrorists-turned-counter insurgents.
He was later part of the Rashtriya Rifles units that fights the onslaught of Pakistan-supported terrorist outfits.
On November 25 last year, the 38-year-old officer laid down his life in a battle between security and terrorists. During a heavy gun battle with a group of terrorists from Hizbul Mujahedeen and Lashkar-e-Taiba, holed up at Hirapur village in South Kashmir's Shopian district, Wani was fatally wounded and later succumbed to his injuries.
Before coming under the intense hail of bullets from the terrorists, he eliminated the 'district commander' of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and one foreign terrorist in a daring display of courage. In the ensuing gunfight, he was hit multiple times, including on his head. He also injured another terrorist before succumbing to grievous wounds, they said.
Six terrorists were killed in the encounter.
The Ashok Chakra, one of the top honours for a terrorist-turned- armyman did not surprise many who knew Wani.
"He was a brave soldier and a hero right from the beginning. He always served for peace in his home state of Jammu and Kashmir," said a senior Army official.
"Throughout his life, he willingly faced grave threats and was a source of inspiration to others," says Colonel Rajesh Kalia, officiating Defence spokesman of the Northern Command Headquarters.
Lance Naik Wani was also awarded the Sena Medal twice for his indomitable courage: Once, for his gallantry in 2007's Operation Augam in which four terrorists were eliminated. Secondly for his courage in an operation undertaken in November 2017 in which he helped eliminate one Hizbul terrorist at close quarters, and apprehend one LeT and one Hizbul member.
"He always had the interest of the nation in his heart. He operated with the Rashtriya Rifles units in Kashmir. Throughout his active life he always willingly faced grave potential threats and was a source of inspiration for others," said one of his colleagues.
Wani's wife Mahajabeen said she did not cry when she was told that he was martyred. "There was an inner voice that did not allow me to cry," she said on the day Government announced the Ashok Chakra for Wani.
"As a teacher, I am dedicating myself to creating good citizens for my state. leading the young minds in the right direction is my resolve and I am drawing inspiration for it from my beloved husband-the best in the world," said Mahajabeen.
(With inputs from Ishfaq-ul-Hassan)
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