Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 17: Braving challenges with courage and fortitude, Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) has scripted yet another saga of valour by bagging three Shourya Chakras, first time in its odyssey of service to nation.
The proud recipients of Shourya Chakra included Sub-Inspector Imran Tak, SPO/Follower Ashiq Malik posthumously and Head Constable Subash Chander, posted in North Kashmir.
Sub Inspector Imran Tak was born on July 14, 1982 in village Mong of Tehsil Basantgarh District Jammu. After completing his education, he joined J&K Police as Sub Inspector and was deployed in Srinagar on November 17, 2017 when an information regarding movement of terrorists in a vehicle was received by J&K Police in the area.
SI Imran Hussain Tak immediately led a police party and established a joint Naka at Zakoora in the outskirts of Srinagar city to nab the terrorists. Soon after the Naka was established, a vehicle approached the Naka point which was signalled to stop. On this, the terrorists boarding the vehicle fired indiscriminately with heavy arms upon the Naka party and tried to escape from the spot.
Applying good senses, SI Tak targeted the terrorist who was driving the vehicle and injured him severely. However, he was also injured in the exchange of fire. Again the terrorists tried to run away leaving behind the vehicle at a distance but the brave officer, despite having been injured and blood oozing out of his body, along with his police party chased the terrorists and confronted them at a close range. One hard core terrorist was eliminated in the gun fight and another terrorist was overpowered and arrested.
However, the officer succumbed to his injuries attaining martyrdom. For this act of gallantry, SI Imran Hussain Tak was awarded with Shaurya Chakra by the Government of India.
The brave officer is survived by his parents, wife and a daughter.
Head Constable Subash Chander was born on March 13, 1977 in village Dori Doger Tehsil Akhnoor of district Jammu. He joined J&K Police as constable and was later promoted. On October 19, 2018, the Head Constable along with other personnel was deployed at a joint Naka at Kralhar Baramulla, Railway crossing, established for checking of vehicles and civilians in view of the impending counting of votes during Urban & Local Bodies elections.
During checking, a suspicious Scorpio vehicle was noticed by the Naka party, which was signalled to stop. Passengers boarding the vehicle were asked to prove their identity. A passenger suddenly took out AK-47 rifle and fired upon Head Constable Subash Chander, who by then had realised the intensions of the terrorist and had taken a defensive position, thus had a miraculous escape. With eight more people boarding the vehicle, it was extremely difficult for the HC to take action against the terrorists and at the same time save the innocent passengers. In the melee civilians attempted to deboard from the vehicle but the terrorists tried to take them as hostage and use them as cover to escape.
Head Constable Subash Chander with utmost presence of mind and superb marksmanship aimed at the terrorist who was firing indiscriminately and killed him. The huge challenge was to rescue the civilians who were taken as hostages by other terrorist. The HC again showing his presence of mind threw a stunt grenade towards the road side which exploded with a bang and frustrated the terrorists. Under the aid of covering fire from other Naka personnel, the HC without wasting any time took on the terrorist and eliminated him. Huge quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the gunned down terrorists.
For safeguarding the lives of civilians in an extremely dangerous situation with rarest of rare display of exemplary bravery killing two hard core foreign terrorists, Head Constable Subash Chander was awarded with Shaurya Chakra on Independence Day 2019.
Earlier, also for his gallant act, Subash Chander was awarded Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for gallantry in which one hardcore LeT militant was killed in Amergarh Sopore.
Martyr SPO Aashiq Hussain Malik, son of Mohammad Maqbool Malik resident of Chittergul, Shangus in district Anantnag, was born on March 7, 1995. He joined Police Department in June 2013 as Special Police Officer (SPO). He remained posted with Special Operation Group and participated in various anti-terror operations during which various terrorists were neutralized and terror operatives arrested.
In January 2017, he was part of an anti-terror operation at Awoora Pahalgam in which he had played frontal role resulting in the elimination of three hard core terrorists.
On June 22, 2018, on specific information about the presence of terrorists, a joint operation was planned and executed by J&K Police and other security forces at Nowsheha Bijbehara. HC Ashiq Hussain Malik was also part of the operation. During the operation hiding terrorists opened indiscriminate firing upon the operational components with the intention to break the cordon and escape from the spot. SPO Ashiq Hussain Malik volunteered and marched towards the house where the terrorists were hiding. Without caring for his own life he showed nerve of steel and marched in a fire retaliatory action. He succeeded to reach in the close proximity of the terrorists who were firing heavily and lobed grenades.
It was due to the highest degree of professionalism and courage exhibited by the joint operation team particularly SPO Ashiq Husain Malik that four heavily armed terrorists were eliminated in the operation. However he attained martyrdom while valiantly fighting the terrorists leaving behind aged parents, a young brother and a minor sister.
In recognition of his gallant action, he has been awarded Shaurya Chakra on Independent Day-2019 by Government of India. Aashiq Hussain Malik is survived by his parents.
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