Rajnath breaks protocol, hugs brave BSF jawan suffering 85 pc disability

NEW DELHI: In a rare gesture, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today broke protocol and hugged BSF constable Godhraj Meena who has suffered 85 per cent disability after militants’ bullets hit him during an attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur in 2014.

Meena’s bus, part of a Border Security Force convoy, was ambushed by militants on August 5, 2014 near the ‘narsu nalah’ area in Udhampur with a heavy gunfire.

The citation of the 44-year-old trooper said he was on guard duty in the bus and his bravery, acute presence of mind and accurate fire kept the two militants at bay and thwarted their attempts to enter and target the about 30 personnel onboard.

Meena, who is not able to speak properly as one bullet had pierced through his jaw, received a thunderous applause from the officials and jawans when the home minister pinned the gallantry medal on his chest. (AGENCIES)