Ajay Singh Salaria

Biography

Naik Ajay Singh Salaria was born on 10 April 1982 in Pathankot, Punjab, into a family with a strong military background. His father, Subedar Major Rachhpal Salaria, had also served in the Indian Army, and it was this legacy of service that inspired Ajay Singh Salaria to don the uniform. He joined the 10 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and was deployed in the challenging Dras Sector of Jammu and Kashmir, where his unit was entrusted with guarding the border and conducting counter-terrorism operations. On 17 September 2016, he was deployed with his comrades on border security and patrol duty when the security forces came into contact with a group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the border. A fierce exchange of fire broke out during the ensuing counter-terrorism operation. Disregarding his own safety, Naik Ajay Singh Salaria held his position, took charge of the front and gave the enemy a firm response. During the intense encounter he was hit by a bullet and grievously wounded, and he attained martyrdom while defending the sovereignty of the nation.