Ashok Chakra conferred posthumously on Garud commando

Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, a Garud Commando of the Indian Air Force (IAF) who died fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, was on Friday posthumously conferred the Ashok Chakra - the country's highest peacetime gallantry award.

President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the award to Nirala's wife at a function during the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath here.

The commando of the elite special force of the IAF had shown indomitable courage and valour while taking on terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and laid down his life.

Corporal Nirala was part of an offensive launched jointly by the Garud detachment and Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in Chanderger village of Bandipora district on November 18, 2017.

The Garud detachment laid a close quarter ambush around the house where the terrorists were tipped to be hiding. Nirala positioned himself close to the approach of the hideout to block the escape way for the terrorists.

While the detachment lay in wait, six terrorists rushed out, shooting and lobbing grenades at the soldiers.

Nirala retaliated, gunning down two top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists and injuring two others. He also received gunshot wounds in the fierce gun battle.

Though critically injured, Nirala continued retaliatory fire and subsequently succumbed to his injuries. All six terrorists were killed.