Shabir Ahmad Malik, KC

Biography

Shabir Ahmad Malik was born on 21 March 1988 in Dab village, Ganderbal district, Jammu & Kashmir. He attended Sainik School Manasbal through Class XII before enlisting in the Indian Army on 15 March 2007. After rigorous commando training, he was posted to 1 Para (Special Forces). On 21 March 2009 — his 21st birthday — Malik was part of a counter-terrorism operation in Kupwara district. He volunteered as the lead scout and engaged infiltrating terrorists under heavy fire. During the fierce encounter, he rescued his wounded comrade despite sustaining serious gunshot wounds himself. He then killed terrorists in hand-to-hand combat and refused evacuation, continuing to motivate his troops. The operation resulted in the elimination of multiple militants and recovery of significant weapons. For his conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage, and supreme sacrifice, Paratrooper Shabir Ahmad Malik was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra — the nation's second-highest peacetime gallantry award.