Naib Subedar Joginder Nath SC

Naib Subedar Joginder Nath hailed from Mooni village in Billawar Tehsil of Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir. After completing his education, he chose to serve the nation and joined the Indian Army. He was recruited into the Parachute Regiment, one of the Indian Army’s most elite and distinguished regiments, renowned for its highly trained soldiers, exceptional courage, and participation in numerous challenging and daring operations. Driven by a strong sense of duty and a desire to serve in an elite combat formation, he later volunteered for the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), popularly known as the ‘Red Devils’. The battalion has a distinguished history dating back to 1761 and was converted into a Special Forces battalion in 1978. Over the years, the unit developed specialised capabilities for unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism, urban operations, and other tactical missions requiring exceptional physical endurance, combat skills, courage, and mental resilience.

During his service, he built a reputation as a disciplined and dependable soldier. He also entered a new chapter in his personal life when he married Ms Gayatri Devi. Balancing family responsibilities with the demanding requirements of military service, he continued to serve with dedication and commitment. By 1997, after years of dedicated service, he had risen through the ranks and was promoted to the rank of Naib Subedar, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO). As a JCO, he carried greater responsibility for the men under his command and became an important link between the officers and the troops. Known for his discipline, courage, and unwavering devotion to duty, Naib Subedar Joginder Nath continued to serve with the same determination that had defined his military career. 

Manipur Operation: 14 Apr 1997

In April 1997, Naib Subedar Joginder Nath was serving with 1 Para (Special Forces), which was deployed in the North-East for counter-insurgency operations. The battalion was operating in the challenging terrain of Manipur, where dense jungles, steep ridges and difficult approaches often posed serious operational challenges. On the night of 13/14 April 1997, Naib Subedar Joginder Nath was commanding a column tasked with raiding the hideout of an insurgent group located in the Maphital Ridge area of Ukhrul district, Manipur. The mission required the column to move stealthily through difficult and heavily wooded terrain and close in on the suspected hideout without alerting the insurgents. Leading from the front, Naib Subedar Joginder Nath guided his men through the challenging jungle terrain towards the target. As the column approached the hideout, the operation encountered a major obstacle in the form of a sheer cliff, making further movement extremely difficult. At the same time, the column came under fire from the insurgents, who had taken up positions and began engaging the troops from multiple directions. Realising that the situation demanded immediate and decisive action, Naib Subedar Joginder Nath decided to lead the assault personally. Displaying remarkable courage and determination, he moved forward towards the insurgent positions despite the intense opposition.

During the assault, he was hit twice by enemy fire and sustained serious injuries. However, rather than withdrawing or allowing his injuries to halt the operation, he continued to engage the insurgents with determination. Wounded but undeterred, Naib Subedar Joginder Nath pressed home the assault and succeeded in gaining an advantage over the insurgents. His courageous action not only disrupted the enemy’s position but also provided his comrades with the opportunity to manoeuvre and continue the operation. Even while seriously wounded, he remained focused on the safety of his men and continued to return fire. His fighting spirit remained unbroken until the very end. Despite his grievous injuries, Naib Subedar Joginder Nath continued to engage the insurgents and fought valiantly until he finally succumbed to his wounds and made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. His decision to personally lead the assault after the column came under attack, and his refusal to give up even after sustaining serious injuries, reflected the highest traditions of the Indian Army and the Special Forces. For his conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and supreme sacrifice, Naib Subedar Joginder Nath was awarded the Shaurya Chakra, the nation’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award. 

Naib Subedar Joginder Nath is survived by his wife, Smt Gayatri Devi.

The citation for the "Shaurya Chakra" awarded to him reads:

Naib Subedar Joginder Nath of 1 PARA (Special Forces) was the commander of the rear flank of a column tasked to raid a hideout of a dreaded insurgent group in Maphital Ridge, Ukhrul district, Manipur. On the night of 13/14 April 97, the column had negotiated sheer cliffs and extremely hostile jungle terrain to reach the hideout. When the column reached just 1 Kilometer short of the hideout, it came under heavy automatic fire from three directions. Naib Subedar Joginder Nath retaliated with fire, along with his two rear scouts, to provide safe passage for the advancing column. On realising the handicap due to the sheer cliff on one side, he decided to assault the insurgents. Firing his weapon and steadily advancing up the sheer cliff, he was single-handedly responsible for gaining an edge over the insurgents and providing safety to his comrades. During this assault, he was hit with one bullet on his shoulder; despite the bullet injury, he continued the assault, returning fire with only one hand. He was once again hit with 7 bullets in the neck. Despite being severely wounded continued to return fire till he finally succumbed to his injuries.

Displaying indomitable courage, he had killed a top militant and recovered his .38 US-made revolver along with 12 rounds of ammunition and a large quantity of incriminating documents. Naib Subedar Joginder Nath thus displayed indomitable, relentless determination in saving the life of his comrade and made the supreme sacrifice.