Ram Babu Shahi

Biography

Rifleman Ram Babu Shahi hailed from Jagatpur village in the Chitwan district of Nepal and was born in 1994. He joined the Indian Army in 2013 at the age of 19 and was recruited into the 1 Gorkha Rifles, an infantry regiment renowned for its fearless soldiers. After serving for a couple of years with his parent unit, Rifleman Shahi was deputed to the 32 Rashtriya Rifles battalion deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-insurgency operations. By 2018, Rifleman Shahi was serving in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, where his battalion was regularly engaged in anti-insurgency operations against terrorists and often faced very challenging situations. On 16 August 2018, intelligence sources reported the presence of a large number of terrorists hiding in Kachhlu village in the Rafiabad area of Baramulla district. After assessing the situation, a joint operation comprising elements of the Army, the CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir Police was launched, with Rifleman Shahi forming part of the Army contingent from 32 Rashtriya Rifles. On 17 August 2018, the joint team reached the suspected area and cordoned it off before beginning a search operation. Feeling cornered, the terrorists opened fire from their hiding places, and a fierce gun battle ensued with heavy exchange of fire. Rifleman Shahi was hit by bullets and severely injured during the encounter. He was given first aid and rushed to the Army's 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar, but the brave soldier later succumbed to his injuries. At the young age of 24, Rifleman Ram Babu Shahi laid down his life in the service of the nation.