Manzoor Ahmad Naik, SC

Biography

Constable Manzoor Ahmad Naik hailed from Dachina village, Salamabad, Uri in North Kashmir, a village close to the Line of Control. He joined the J&K Police in 2003 and served with the elite Special Operations Group, the force's dedicated counter-insurgency wing. On the night of 4-5 March 2017, security forces launched a joint operation involving the Indian Army, J&K Police SOG, and CRPF at Tral in Pulwama based on intelligence about Hizbul Mujahideen militants including Aqib Bhat, an aide of slain commander Burhan Wani. The operation became a 15-hour gunbattle. Constable Naik voluntarily came forward and placed explosives around the house under heavy fire. Despite an Army Major having already been seriously injured, Naik again volunteered to place a second charge. While planting the explosives during this second attempt, he was struck by a burst of fire. Despite being mortally wounded, he completed the task before breathing his last. Both militants were subsequently killed. He was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra for displaying sheer grit and unflinching devotion to duty.