AIATF awards two J&K youths for overpowering Pak terrorist

The two young men from Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, who overpowered and caught alive a suspected Pakistani terrorist last week, were today given Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Bravery award for showing exemplary courage at a function here.
Rakesh Sharma and Vikramjit were felicitated and given the award by the All India Anti Terrorist Front (AIATF) chairman M S Bitta and Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty.
The duo were taken hostage by Mohammad Naveed alias Mohammad Usman, a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist, who had escaped from the encounter site on Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Udhampur on August 5.
The youths did not think for their own life when they grabbed Naveed's AK-47, pinned him to ground and disarmed him while he was readying himself to attack the forces.

The duo, who were brought here from Jammu, were given a financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh each.
The duo said they are facing a threat to life after the incident, but are least bothered about it and that service to nation is supreme to them.

"We did not care for our lives (while catching the terrorist). We will continue to serve the country," Sharma said.
Recalling the incident, Vikramjit said Naveed wanted to kill them even though they had given him food.
"See the humanity of our countrymen that we offered food even to our dreaded enemy (Naveed) when he was in need and was begging for food. However, after eating, he wanted to take our lives," he said.

AIATF chairman Bitta said that "I would visit the village of these youths after a few days and will make some recommendations to government not only for the betterment of youths there, but also of entire village."
He said the need of the hour is to train the youths living in states neighbouring Pakistan border in dealing with terrorists, on the lines of Israel.
Shetty said, the duo are real heroes who have done a bigger job than what he did in film 'Border'.
"There could be hundreds of the story lines crossing the mind of the producers, directors and scriptwriters who may be seriously considering a film on this heroic plot. If a movie is made on the incident, I would like to play the role of both Sharma and Vikramjit," the actor said.

Jammu and Kashmir Police had yesterday recommended Sharma and Vikramjit's names for 'Shaurya Chakra' gallantry medal.
Two BSF soldiers were killed and 11 personnel injured in the attack on a convoy of the para-military force on Jammu- Srinagar national highway in Udhampur on August 5.