These Kashmiri Muslim Youth Fought For India, Sacrificed Their Lives For National Defence

Nationaldefence.in, 22 March 2016

Families of Mohd Shafi Sheikh and Reyaz Ahmad Lone were saluted by none other than the Supreme Commander of Indian Armed Forces, the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, while awarding Shaurya Chakra posthumously. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar too met the families of both martyrs at President house during the defence investiture ceremony and enquired about their well being. Both Kashmiri youth fallen in the line of their duty on 7 April 2014 while dealing with militancy. Mohd Shafi Sheikh’s wife Mst Afrooza Shafi, and Reyaz Ahmad Lone’s wife, Mst Surriya Begum, received Shaurya Chakra. Darbar Hall at Rashtrapati Bhawan was thundered by the applause of the people attending the investiture ceremony.

On 7 April, 2014, acting on a specific input regarding presence of terrorists in a house at Gund Zunareshi Chowjuva, an operation was jointly launched by J&K Police and Army. A dedicated team of police including head constable Mohd Shafi Sheikh and Constable Reyaz Ahmed Lone, putting their lives in great risk, started looking for hideout in the house. Suddenly, there was an indiscriminate firing from one of the rooms. Terrorists also lobbed grenades with the intension to cause collateral damage. During heavy exchange of firing, HC Mohd Shafi Sheikh, Constable Reyaz Ahmad Lone an done Army Jawan received several bullet injuries. Despite constant seeping of blood, HC Md Safi Sheikh and Constable Reyaz Ahmed Lone retaliated the fire with full wits and foiled the terrorists’ attempts to flee from encounter site before attaining the martyrdom. Ultimately both the terrorists were neutralized.

During the operation, HC Martyr Mohd Shafi Sheikh No.100/HEXK981637 and Constable Reyaz Ahmad Lone No.307/HEXK055949 displayed gallantry, unparalleled courage and devotion to duty in fighting with the terrorists and made supreme sacrifice.

Mohd Shafi Sheikh was born on 01 March 1979 at Tragpora, Rafiabad, Sopore. He joined J&K Police on 18 June 1998 as constable. He was awarded two out of turn promotion during his 15 year service for his brave and gallant contribution on anti-militancy front. He is survived by 70 year old father jenab Ghulam Mohi-ud-din, a retired police officer, old age mother, Mst Atiqa Begum, wife mst Afrooza Shafi, three minor sons.

Martyr constable Reyaz Ahmad Lone is son of late Jenab Ali Mohd Lone, a resident of Wanpora, tehsil Gurez, district Bandipora. He was born on 01 March 1984. He joined J&K police as constable on 29 September 2005. He is survived by 65 year old mother Ashia Begum, 24 year old wife Mst Surriya Begum, house wife and three year old daughter Jantull Fiza, three month old son Abu Hurarah, two sisters Shakeela Bano, Shagufta Bano and younger brother Ishtiaq Ahmad Lone. He was the sole bread winner of his family.

NationalDefence salutes both the martyrs who fought for India and sacrificed their lives for the national defence. 

Pathankot Martyr Jagdish Chand Receives Kirti Chakra Posthumously

President gave away the Kirti Chakra to the wife of sepoy Jagdish Chandra of Defence Security Corps (DSC), who died while fighting Pakistani terrorists at Pathankot Air Base. 

At about 0330 hrs on 01/02 January 2016, when Sepoy Jagdish Chand was on duty at Defence Security Corps lines at Pathankot Air Base, a group of armed terrorists entered the lines and opened indiscriminate fire on the troops working there resulting in two of his colleagues being fatally wounded.

Showing presence of mind and valour, Sepoy Jagdish Chand, unmindful of his own safety, ran after the closest terrorist, chased and over powered him. Sepy Jagdish Chand snatched the terrorist’s weapon to shoot him dead. In the process, two more terrorists in vicinity opened fire on Sepoy Jagdish Chand killing him on the spot.

Sepoy Jagdish Chand displayed great presence of mind, valour and conspicuous gallantry and made supreme sacrifice in fighting with the terrorists. 

NationalDefence salutes martyr Jagdish Chand who fought for India and sacrificed his lives for the defence of pathankot air base.