JK policeman given 'Shaurya Chakra' posthumously for exemplary courage

A Jammu and Kashmir Police constable has been awarded the 'Shaurya Chakra' posthumously for showing exemplary courage while fighting militants in the restive state, officials said.

Manzoor Ahmed Naik, who was a resident of Uri in Baramulla district, laid down his life at Haffu Nigeenpora village of Tral in South Kashmir's Pulwama district on March 5, 2017 during a gunfight with militants.

Naik was a part of cordon and search operation in the area jointly conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF.

On the day, the 33-year-old policeman, who became a father soon after he lost his life, was trying to flush out militants holed up in a house, after escaping a volley of fire in his first attempt, a home ministry official said.

In his first attempt, Naik, undeterred by blazing fire from assault rifles, crawled in the pitch dark and placed explosives around the house. As he started retreating, he came under heavy fire, but he escaped unharmed. The explosives planted by him, though, brought down half of the house.

After a wait of two hours, when the exchange of firing stopped, Naik again volunteered to plant explosives to bring down what remained of the house. As he charged towards the house second time, he was hit by a volley of bullets from a militant.

Despite, his wounds, the constable placed the explosives on remaining part of the house before breathing his last, the official said.

During the encounter, two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed and large quantity of arms and ammunition including 2 AK-47 Rifles were recovered from the possession of the killed militants.

Naik, without caring for his personal safety and besides being seriously wounded continued to fight till his last breath, another official said.

Honouring his exemplary bravery, Naik was awarded Shaurya Chakra posthumously by the government, the official said.

The Shaurya Chakra is the country's military award for valour, courage action and self-sacrifice. It is third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards after the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra.