Lance Naik Mohd Iqbal Sheikh

Lance Naik Mohd Iqbal Sheikh hailed from Rishipora in Anantnag district of J&K. He belonged to 1 JAK Li unit of the J&K Light Infantry, which was deployed in Jammu and was stationed at Sunjuwan Army camp. By the year 2018, the 32 year old Lance Naik Mohd Iqbal Sheikh had put in about 12 years of service and had served in various operational areas around the country.

Lance Naik Mohd Iqbal Sheikh was happy to be posted to Jammu as this was the first time in his military career that he had got a chance to serve in his home state.  He also insisted his father to stay with him to save him from the harsh winter of south Kashmir.

Sunjuwan Army Camp Attack : 10 February 2018

The Sunjuwan Army Camp is located along the Jammu-Lakhanpur bypass near Jammu and is a sprawling campus of over 100 acres. On 10 Feb 2018 in the early morning a group of heavily armed terrorists struck the camp of the 36 Brigade of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry at Sunjuwan.  The soldiers and their families were sleeping when the terrorists struck in the dark, firing indiscriminately. The terrorists had managed to sneak into the camp from the rear side of the base after a brief exchange of fire with the sentry on its periphery. The terrorists entered the family accommodation complex and barged into the JCO family quarters.

The terrorists were fully armed with AK 47 rifles and hand grenades and were determined to cause maximum casualties. Hony Lt Madan lal Choudry heard the gunshot sounds in the quarters and immediately rushed towards the door, where terrorists were present. Hony Lt Choudhary in a rare display of courage did not allow the terrorists to enter his house. Hony Lt Madan Lal Choudhary was shot from a close range but his gallant engagement with the terrorists saved the lives of his family members. He was martyred but showed exceptional courage and presence of mind in dealing with the crisis.

Soon Army personnel in bullet-proof vehicles got engaged in the operation to rescue people from the family quarters in the rear side of the base. Subsequently, the army’s special forces also joined the operation against the terrorists which continued for nearly 72 hours, when all of them were finally neutralized. During the intense operation with a heavy exchange of fire, Sub Mohd Ashraf Mir, Hav Habibullah Qureshi, Hav Rakesh Chandra, Nk Manzoor Ahmed Deva & Lance Naik Mohd Iqbal Sheikh got severely injured and later succumbed to their injuries.

Lance Naik Mohd Iqbal Sheikh was a valiant and committed soldier who laid down his life in the service of the nation. He is survived by his mother, wife, Shabnam and a son.