Srinagar: Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, a terrorist-turned-soldier who was martyred during an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian in 2018, will be awarded the Ashok Chakra posthumously.

Wani will be conferred India’s highest peacetime gallantry award on Republic Day, 2019.

A press release from the President’s Secretariat said, “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.”

Wani was once a terrorist himself, however, he surrendered before the Indian Army and became involved in counter-insurgency operations to help wipe out terrorism from the Valley. He later went on to become a two-time winner of the Sena Medal.

On November 28, 2018, Wani and his team were ordered to block the escape route of six heavily armed Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists in the Valley. 

“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 was injured in an encounter, however, he managed to kill the terrorist who attacked him. He later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. 

He was given a 21-gun salute. Wani is survived by a wife and two children.