Cpl Jyoti Prakash Nirala of the IAF's Garud force blocked the escape of six terrorists at Chanderger, Bandipora, on 18 November 2017.
The target house at Chanderger
On 18 November 2017, a Garud detachment of the Indian Air Force and 13 Rashtriya Rifles launched a joint offensive on a house in Chanderger village, Bandipora district. The Garuds approached unseen and laid an ambush at close quarters. Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala took a position close to the way out of the hideout, closing off the escape route.
Six terrorists rushed from the house, firing and throwing grenades. Nirala fired back, killed two and injured two more.
A volley of small-arms fire hit him. He kept firing though critically injured, and later died of the gunshot wounds. All six terrorists were killed in the encounter.
The Defence Ministry issued two accounts that day. They agree on two killed and two injured, but one describes both men killed as category A, while the other grades one as category A+.
An airman from Rohtas
Nirala, service number 918203, was born on 15 November 1986 and came from Badiladih village in Rohtas district, Bihar. He joined the Garud force in 2005 and was serving as a specialist weapon operator. He had turned 31 three days before the action.
The Ashoka Chakra was announced for Republic Day 2018.
Official text from the Press Information Bureau
918203 Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala Indian Air Force (Security) was on posted strength of a Garud Special Forces Unit, a detachment of which was attached to a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion under aegis of ‘Op Rakshak’ in Jammu & Kashmir. On 18 November, 2017, based on specific tech intelligence, an offensive was launched jointly by the Garud detachment and Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in Chanderger village of Bandipora district in J&K. The Garud detachment covertly approached the target house where the suspected terrorists were hiding and laid a close quarter ambush. Cpl Nirala, displaying exceptional battle craft, positioned himself close to the approach of the hideout, thus cutting off all possibilities of an escape by the terrorists. Laying this ambush itself at such close quarters demanded a very high degree of courage and professional acumen. While the detachment laid in wait, six terrorists hiding in the house, rushed out, shooting and lobbing grenades at the Garuds. Cpl Nirala, disregarding personal safety and displaying indomitable courage, retaliated with effective lethal fire and gunned down two category ‘A’ terrorists and injured two others. In this violent exchange of fire, Cpl Nirala was hit by a volley of small arms fire. Despite being critically injured, the Corporal continued retaliatory fire. Subsequently, he succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds received in the fierce encounter, which resulted in the killing of all six dreaded terrorists. Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala exhibited most conspicuous gallantry in fighting with terrorists and made supreme sacrifice.
Source: Press Information Bureau release. Reproduced as printed, including any errors in the original.