New Delhi, May 13
It seems to be a story that happens only in Bollywood. A former militant who reformed himself was inducted in the Indian Army. He will be conferred upon with Shaurya Chakra posthumously tomorrow.
Rifleman Abdul Hamid Chara, born in 1975, was named after the famed Abdul Hamid Khan of 1965 Indo-Pak war, who earned his name for the battle of Asal Uttar and won the Param Vir Chakra.
He was barely 14 years of age when a sudden wave of terrorism swept a part of the valley. Al-Barq terrorists kidnapped and forced Chara to join their outfit. He deserted them after a couple of days and surrendered to the police.
Chara served with the special operation group (SOG) of J&K police and provided valuable inputs leading to many successful anti-terrorist operations. Unmindful of threat to him and his family, Chara continued to work for ushering in peace in Lolab valley, where his home is. Frustrated over unsuccessful attack on Chara, terrorists killed his father Laidin Chara in 2004.
In October 2004, Chara joined 62 Infantry Battalion (TA) and was posted with Divar (markul) company of 18 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion.
On June 12 last year, Chara took part in search and destroy operation in Ander Nar area of Gagal (Kupwara). During midday, he observed two terrorists trying to run away. He allowed them to come within five metres as he crawled under dense undergrowth of vegetation to cut off their escape route. The terrorists spotted him and brought down heavy volume of rocket, grenade and small arms fire. Despite serious multiple gunshot and splinter injuries, he continued to fire and crawled downhill to cover dead ground and killed a terrorist who was later identified as Mussa, self-styled district commander of the LeT, Kupwara. Mussa was in charge of coordinating all activities and management of the LeT.
