Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma of the Delhi Police led a seven-member team into a flat in Batla House on 19 September 2008 and was shot on entry.
The flat in Batla House
On 19 September 2008, Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma of the Delhi Police received specific information that a man wanted over the serial bomb blasts in Delhi was hiding in a flat in the Batla House area of Jamia Nagar.
Sharma led a seven-member team to the address. As he entered the flat he took the first burst of fire from the men inside. He fired back.
In the exchange that followed, two terrorists were killed and one was captured. Sharma died of his wounds the same day, four days short of his 43rd birthday.
Almora to the Special Cell
Sharma was born in the Chaukhutia Masi area of Almora in present-day Uttarakhand. He joined the Delhi Police as a sub-inspector in 1989 and served for 19 years, becoming part of the Special Cell, the force's anti-terrorist unit.
The Ashoka Chakra was conferred posthumously on 26 January 2009, one of 11 awarded that day. He was the only officer of the Delhi Police on that list.
Official text from the Press Information Bureau
On 19th September 2008, Shri Mohan Chand Sharma, Inspector, Delhi Police received specific information that a suspected person wanted in connection with the serial bomb blasts in Delhi was hiding in a flat in Batla House area of Jamia Nagar, New Delhi. Shri Sharma leading a seven member team quickly reached the identified flat. As soon as he entered the flat he received the first burst of fire from the terrorists holed up inside the flat. Undaunted, he returned the fire. In the ensuing exchange of fire, two terrorists were killed and one captured. Shri Mohan Chand Sharma showed exemplary courage and devotion to duty in fighting the terrorists and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.
Source: Press Information Bureau release. Reproduced as printed, including any errors in the original.