Naik Dilwar Khan KC

Naik Dilwar Khan hailed from Gharwasda village in Bangana tehsil of Una district, Himachal Pradesh. Born in March 1996, he was the son of Shri Karamdeen and Smt Bholan Bibi. From an early age, Naik Dilwar Khan exhibited a deep sense of patriotism and a strong inclination toward military service. Inspired by the valour of the Indian Army, he harbored a dream of donning the uniform and serving the nation. With unwavering determination, he pursued his goal and, after completing his school education, joined the Indian Army on 20th December 2014, at the young age of 18 years. His dedication and resilience earned him a place in the Regiment of Artillery, a crucial combat support arm of the Indian Army, known for its formidable firepower, including field guns, howitzers, and rocket systems.

After serving for several years with his parent regiment, Naik Dilwar Khan was selected for a deputation to the 28 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) Battalion, a specialized counter-insurgency unit deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. Rashtriya Rifles, a highly trained force, plays a pivotal role in combating insurgency in the region. His posting to 28 RR placed him at the forefront of counter-terrorism operations in one of the most volatile and challenging environments in the country.

Kupwara Operation(J&K): 23/24 Jul 2024

During Jul 2024, Naik Dilwar Khan was serving with the 28 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), a battalion actively engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the Kupwara district of Kashmir Valley. The 28 RR operated under the Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) Kilo, which functioned under the operational control of XV Corps, also known as ‘Chinar Corps’. Headquartered in Srinagar, XV Corps is responsible for overseeing military operations across the Kashmir Valley, ensuring security and stability in the region. Deployed in an area infested with militants, Naik Dilwar Khan’s battalion was constantly engaged in high-risk operations, conducting frequent counter-insurgency missions to neutralize threats and safeguard civilian lives. The battalion operated in a challenging environment where the Line of Control (LoC), situated near its Area of Responsibility (AOR), remained highly volatile. Frequent ceasefire violations, often unpredictable, kept the situation tense, as terrorists continued to infiltrate across the border with the tacit support of Pakistani security forces. Despite the ever-present dangers, Naik Dilwar Khan and his unit remained steadfast in their mission, displaying unwavering vigilance and exceptional courage in the face of relentless threats.

On the night of 23rd July 2024, Naik Dilwar Khan was leading an ambush operation in the dense jungles of Lolab Valley, Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir. At approximately 2350 hours, his ambush party detected movement and observed two heavily armed terrorists, one of whom was at an extremely close distance. As the team swiftly engaged the terrorist, he retaliated with indiscriminate firing and charged aggressively towards them. Recognizing the imminent threat to his comrades and displaying extraordinary courage and selflessness, Naik Dilwar Khan disregarded his personal safety and, despite being under heavy enemy fire, lunged forward to engage the terrorist in a fierce hand-to-hand combat. While grappling with the assailant, the second terrorist continued to fire relentlessly from a distance, further escalating the danger. Despite sustaining grievous injuries, Naik Dilwar Khan refused to release his grip, determined to neutralize the threat. With sheer resilience and unwavering resolve, he fired at point-blank range, eliminating the terrorist before succumbing to his injuries. For his indomitable courage, unparalleled gallantry, and supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, Naik Dilwar Khan was posthumously awarded the "Kirti Chakra", one of India’s highest peacetime gallantry awards. 

Naik Dilwar Khan is survived by his father Shri Karamdeen, mother Smt Bholan Bibi, his wife, and son Junej.

The citation for the ‘Kirti Chakra’ awarded to him reads :

Naik Dilwar Khan was part of an ambush in dense jungles of Lolab Valley, Kupwara district on 23 July 2024. At 2350 hours, his party observed two terrorists, one at very close distance. His ambush party fired at the terrorist, who in-turn charged towards them. Sensing grave threat from the closing -in terrorist to his team, showing complete disregard to personal safety, Naik Dilwar Khan, though under heavy volume of fire, lunged and grasped the terrorist, engaging him in hand-to-hand combat, while the other terrorist continued to fire indiscriminately from distance. During this gallant action, Naik Dilwar Khan was grievously injured. Undeterred by his injuries, he did not let go of the terrorist and killed him by firing at point blank range before succumbing to his wounds.

For displaying indomitable courage, with utter disregard to personal safety and gallantry of highest order, Naik Dilwar Khan is awarded with “KIRTI CHAKRA (POSTHUMOUS)”.