Neeraj Kumar Singh
Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh AC was a soldier in the Indian Army who was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest peacetime military decoration on 26 January 2015. He had enlisted in the 13th battalion, Rajputana Rifles and was serving in the 57th battalion Rashtriya Rifles when he was killed in action.
Neeraj Kumar Singh | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Died | Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | ? – 2014 |
| Rank |  |
| Service number | 16012114A |
| Unit | 13 Rajputana Rifles 57 Rashtriya Rifles |
| Awards |  |
The Army man, while leading a search operation at Kupwara in Jammu & Kashmir on August 24, 2014, came under heavy fire from terrorists. He rescued an injured Army person and shot dead one of the terrorists.
13_Rajputana_Rifles_(Posthumous)%2C_the_award_received_by_his_wife.jpg)
He was awarded India's Highest Peacetime Gallantry Award- Ashoka Chakra on 26 January 2015, Republic Day.[1] His award citation reads:
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, a friend of Naik Neeraj was hit on bullet proof jacket. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Naik Neeraj crawled and extricated his friend. 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.