Zakir Husain, SM

Biography

Grenadier Zakir Husain hailed from Softa village in the Palwal district of Haryana and was born in 1968. Drawn to soldiering since childhood, he joined the Army in 1988 at the age of 20 and was inducted into the 22 Grenadiers of the Grenadiers Regiment, an infantry regiment renowned for its valiant soldiers and battle honours. By 1999 he had completed around eleven years of service and had matured into a professionally competent and committed soldier. During June-July 1999, his unit was deployed in the Batalik sector of Ladakh as part of Operation Vijay under the 70 Infantry Brigade. The 22 Grenadiers were tasked with capturing the formidable Khalubar and Point 5287 complex on the Khalubar-Padma Go ridgeline. The assault began on the night of 30 June/1 July. Led by Major Ajit Singh Shekhawat, Grenadier Zakir Husain and his comrades reached their objective but faced a fierce enemy counter-attack. Heavily outnumbered, the Grenadiers fought continuously for three nights, inching forward under intense artillery barrage amid heavily fortified bunkers. During the exchange of fire, Grenadier Zakir Husain was severely injured and succumbed to his wounds on 3 July 1999, aged 31. For his gallantry, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice, he was awarded the Sena Medal posthumously.