Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala hailed from Badladih in Rohtas district of Bihar. He was born on November 15,1986 and joined the IAF in the year of 2005. During his 12 years of service. Cpl Nirala served in various Air Force bases in different parts of the country. He got married to Sushma Nand in 2010 and had a daughter, Jigyasa Kumari. Later, he was chosen to join the elite Garud commando force of the IAF, the specially trained force to tackle hostile attacks on Air Force bases. During 2017, Cpl Nirala joined the training with the 13 RR based in J & K.

Bandipora Operation : 18th November 2017

On 18 Nov 2017, credible information was received from the intelligence sources about the presence of terrorists in Chanderger village of Bandipora district. After analyzing the situation the security forces decided to launch a joint operation of IAF Garud Force and 13 RR to flush out the militants. On reaching the designated area Cpl Nirala’s detachment covertly approached the house that had suspected militants hiding in it and laid a close quarter ambush. Cpl Nirala, armed with a light machine gun, positioned himself close to the approach of the hideout, cutting off all escape routes.

In a bid to escape, the six militants rushed out, shooting and throwing grenades. Cpl Nirala shot down two category ‘A’ militants and injured two others. In the exchange, he was hit by a volley of small arms fire and kept firing despite being critically injured. Cpl Nirala subsequently succumbed to the fatal injuries received during the encounter in which all six militants were killed. One of the militants killed during the operation was the nephew of Lakshar-e-Taiba commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi a major planner of the 2008 Mumbai Attacks. Cpl Nirala displayed outstanding courage and unyielding fighting spirit during the operation and laid down his life in the service of the nation.

Cpl Jyoti Prakash Nirala was given the nation’s highest peace time gallantry award “Ashok Chakra” on 26 Jan 2018, for his raw courage, leadership and supreme sacrifice.

Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala is survived by his wife Sushma Nand, daughter Jigyasa and mother Malti Devi.

Source:https://www.honourpoint.in/