Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami in J&K operations gets Ashoka Chakra

An Army commando, Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami, has been posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest gallantry award during peace time, for his gallantry in fighting militants in J&K last year while a Defence Service Corps (DSC) sepoy, Jagdish Chand, who displayed gallantry in fighting militants during the recent attack by Pakistani militants on the Pathankot airbase, has been awarded the Kirti Chakra, the second-highest gallantry award during peace time. Three others have also been awarded the Kirti Chakra, including an Army commando and two police constables, one of whom also got the award posthumously.

“The nation’s highest peace time gallantry award, Ashoka Chakra, has been awarded posthumously to Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special Forces)/6th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles for his acts of most conspicuous gallantry,” the government said. Sepoy Jagdish Chand, who got the Kirti Chakra posthumously, had been unarmed when he was attacked by a militant at the Pathankot airbase. The brave DSC sepoy snatched the automatic rifle from the militant in hand-to-hand combat and shot him dead but was martyred when two other militants fired at him.

The MoD said that President Pranab Mukherjee had approved a total of 365 gallantry awards and other defence decorations to armed forces personnel and others on the eve of the 67th Republic Day celebrations. “This includes one Ashoka Chakra, four Kirti Chakras, 11 Shaurya Chakras...” the MoD said.

“On the intervening night of September 2 and 3, 2015 Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami was part of an ambush in Haphruda forest at Kupwara district of Jammu & Kashmir. At about 8.15 pm, there was a fierce encounter with four terrorists wherein two of his comrades were injured and pinned down. Lance Naik Mohan along with his buddy dashed forward to rescue their injured colleagues, knowing well the risks to their own lives.

He first assisted in eliminating one terrorist. Sensing grave danger to three of his wounded colleagues, Lance Naik Mohan with utter disregard to his own personal safety, charged at the remaining terrorists drawing intense fire from them. He was hit in the thigh. Unmindful, he closed in and eliminated one terrorist, injured another and was again shot in the abdomen. Undeterred by his injuries, he hurled himself on the last terrorist and killed him at point blank range before succumbing to his wounds. Lance Naik Mohan not only killed two terrorists, but also assisted in neutralising the other two and save the lives of three of his wounded colleagues. Thus, Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami exhibited most conspicuous gallantry in personally eliminating two terrorists and assisting in evacuation of his wounded colleagues and made supreme sacrifice in the highest traditions of the Indian Army,” the MoD said.