Rifleman Aurangzeb & Major Aditya to be Awarded Shaurya Chakra

Major Aditya found himself in the middle of a controversy in January in connection with the Shopian firing case.

Aurangzeb, an army jawan, was abducted by suspected terrorists on Thursday, 14 June, from Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

(Photo: Twitter)

Rifleman Aurangzeb, who was abducted and killed by militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in June this year, will be awarded the Shaurya Chakra – the third-highest peacetime gallantry award. Along with him, Major Aditya Kumar of the Garhwal Rifles will also be receiving the Shaurya Chakra.

Aurangzeb belonged to 4 Jammu and Kashmir's Light Infantry, and was posted at the 44 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Shadimarg in Shopian. The 24-year-old, who joined the Army in 2012, was abducted and killed while he was enroute to his home to celebrate Eid with his family. The jawan's bullet-ridden body was recovered from Pulwama district on 14 June, hours after he was abducted by militants. He was shot in the head and neck.

Meanwhile, Major Aditya of the 10 Garhwal Rifles found himself in the centre of a controvery after three civilians were killed when Army personnel fired at a stone-pelting mob in Ganovpora village of Shopian on 27 January this year.

An FIR was lodged by the Jammu and Kashmir police in this regard against the army personnel.

Major Aditya's father had then sought the quashing of the FIR as he moved the Supreme Court. Later in March this year, the J&K government informed the apex court that Major Aditya was not named as an accused.

President Ram Nath Kovind has also awarded one President's tatrakshak medal (Distinguished Service), five tatrakshak medals (Gallantry) and two tatrakshak medals (Meritorious Service) to the Indian Coast personnel, reported ANI, a day before Independence Day.