L/Nk Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special Forces) saved three wounded comrades in an ambush in Haphruda forest, Kupwara, in September 2015.
The ambush in Haphruda forest
On the night of 2 to 3 September 2015, Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami was part of an ambush in Haphruda forest, Kupwara district. A firefight with four terrorists left two of his comrades injured and pinned down. He and his buddy ran forward to reach them.
He first helped kill one of the terrorists. With three colleagues wounded and in danger, he charged the others and drew their fire. He was hit in the thigh.
He closed in, killed one terrorist and injured another, and was then shot in the abdomen. He threw himself on the last man and killed him at point-blank range before he died of his wounds. The citation credits him with killing two terrorists, helping to account for the other two, and saving the lives of three colleagues.
Lalkuan, Nainital
Goswami, army number 13625566W, came from Lalkuan in Nainital district, Uttarakhand. His father had also served in the Army. A gate at Lalkuan carries his name. He volunteered for the Parachute Regiment in 2002.
His Ashoka Chakra was the only one in the Republic Day 2016 list. His wife, Bhawana Goswami, received it from President Pranab Mukherjee.
Official text from the Press Information Bureau
On the intervening night of 02/03 September 2015 Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami was part of an ambush in Haphruda forest at Kupwara district of Jammu & Kashmir. At about 2015hrs, there was a fierce encounter with four terrorists wherein two of his comrades were injured and pinned down. Lance Naik Mohan along with his buddy dashed forward to rescue their injured colleagues, knowing well the risks to their own lives. He first assisted in eliminating one terrorist. Sensing grave danger to three of his wounded colleagues, Lance Naik Mohan with utter disregard to his own personal safety, charged at the remaining terrorists drawing intense fire from them. He was hit in the thigh. Unmindful, he closed in and eliminated one terrorist, injured another and was again shot in the abdomen. Undeterred by his injuries, he hurled himself on the last terrorist and killed him at point blank range before succumbing to his wounds. Lance Naik Mohan not only killed two terrorists, but also assisted in neutralizing the other two and save the lives of three of his wounded colleagues. Thus, Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami exhibited most conspicuous gallantry in personally eliminating two terrorists and assisting in evacuation of his wounded colleagues and made supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
Source: Press Information Bureau release. Reproduced as printed, including any errors in the original.
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