Suresh Chand Yadav, AC

Biography

Subedar Suresh Chand Yadav hailed from Khetan Khera village in Alwar District of Rajasthan and was born on 1 June 1961 to Shri Gokul Ram Yadav and Smt Dodi Devi. Inspired like many young men of Rajasthan, he was drawn to the Indian Army from an early age. After completing his schooling, he pursued his childhood dream with determination and was recruited in 1978 at the age of seventeen into the 13 Mahar battalion of the Mahar Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its gallant soldiers and battle honours. After completing his training, Sub Suresh Chand served in various operational areas and developed into a fine soldier with admirable leadership skills. By 2000 he had risen to the rank of Subedar and had accumulated substantial field experience. In 2001 he was selected to join the National Security Guard, a force specially equipped and trained to counter terrorism, and on completing his training was assigned to the 51 Special Action Group (51 SAG), the offensive arm of the NSG trained for counter-terrorism operations. On 24 September 2002, two armed terrorists attacked the Akshardham Swaminarayan Temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, killing 30 people and injuring over 100. In response, Operation Vajra Shakti was launched, spearheaded by 51 SAG, and Sub Suresh Chand formed part of the task force. Leading a group of commandos to distract the terrorists, he moved forward under heavy fire to evacuate a wounded comrade and gave covering fire to extricate his pinned-down Team Commander. Drawing enemy fire towards himself to allow his team to close in, he pressed forward and, when less than five metres from a terrorist, received a burst of fire directly on his face. Despite bleeding profusely, he closed in and killed the terrorist at close quarters before succumbing to his injuries. For his outstanding courage and supreme sacrifice, Sub Suresh Chand Yadav was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the nation's highest peacetime gallantry award.