Nk Neeraj Kumar Singh of 57 Rashtriya Rifles pulled a buddy clear and killed two terrorists at Gurdaji, Kupwara, on 24 August 2014.
A rifle lost at Gurdaji
At 10:25 AM on 24 August 2014, Brigade Ghatak troops on a search-and-destroy operation at Gurdaji in Kupwara district saw movement near a dhok, a herders' hut. The men there opened fire. Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh's buddy was hit on his bulletproof jacket, and Singh crawled out and pulled him clear.
A terrorist threw grenades and fired on Singh. He inched closer and shot the man dead.
A second terrorist attacked him at that moment. Singh lost his rifle and was shot in the chest. Badly wounded, he jumped on the man, took his weapon and killed him in hand-to-hand combat. He refused evacuation until he lost consciousness. A helicopter took him to 92 Base Hospital, where he died.
Devrala to 13 Rajputana Rifles
Singh, army number 16012114A, enlisted in 13 Rajputana Rifles and was serving with 57 Rashtriya Rifles on anti-terrorist operations. He came from Devrala village in Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh, the son of a farmer.
His was the single Ashoka Chakra in the Republic Day 2015 list, announced by the Defence Ministry on 25 January 2015. His wife received it from President Pranab Mukherjee the following day.
Official text from the Press Information Bureau
Based on specific intelligence, Brigade Ghataks launched a Search and Destroy Operation at General area Gurdaji of Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on 24 August 2014. At 1025 hours, party noticed movement of few terrorists close to a Dhok, who opened indiscriminate fire on own troops. In the ensuring fire fight, buddy of Naik Neeraj was hit on bullet proof jacket. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Naik Neeraj crawled and extricated his buddy. A terrorist threw grenades and brought heavy fire on Naik Neeraj. In a daring act, he inched closer to the terrorist and shot him dead. Simultaneously, the NCO was attacked by another terrorist resulting in dropping of his Rifle and the terrorist shot him in the chest. Despite grievous injuries, displaying unparalleled courage, he pounced on the terrorist, snatched his weapon and killed him in hand to hand combat. He refused to be evacuated till he became unconscious and was evacuated by helicopter to 92 Base Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh displayed raw courage and most conspicuous gallantry in personally eliminating two foreign terrorists and sacrificing his own life in the highest traditions of the Indian Army.
Source: Press Information Bureau release. Reproduced as printed, including any errors in the original.