Suresh Chand Yadav of 51 Special Action Group, NSG, was killed closing with an attacker at Akshardham, Gandhinagar, on 25 September 2002.
Operation Vajra Shakti at Akshardham
Two gunmen attacked the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar on 24 September 2002, killing about 30 people and wounding more than 100. The National Security Guard's 51 Special Action Group flew in that night to end the attack, under the name Operation Vajra Shakti.
Suresh Chand Yadav led a group tasked with distracting the gunmen while other commandos moved up. When a comrade was hit, he went forward under heavy fire and brought him out. Later, with his team commander pinned down, he crawled forward to give covering fire, then threw grenades and fired to draw fire onto himself so the team could close in.
Less than five metres from one attacker, he was shot in the face. One account says he went on and killed the man at close quarters. He died of his wounds. The NSG dates his death to 25 September 2002.
Khetan Khera to 13 Mahar
He was born on 1 June 1961 at Khetan Khera in Alwar district, Rajasthan, and joined 13 Mahar in 1978, aged 17. He went on deputation to the NSG in 2001. Sources differ on his rank: the award list gives Subedar Major, while his profile and a 2003 Tribune report say Subedar. The NSG lists him as AC-I.
What the citation recorded
Summary, not the official text: the NSG's memorial page and other accounts record that during Operation Vajra Shakti at Akshardham he led a team drawing fire from advancing commandos, brought a wounded comrade out under fire, gave covering fire to his team commander and threw grenades at the attackers. He was shot at close range, killed the attacker he had closed with, and died of his wounds.