Subedar Suresh Chand Yadav of 13 Mahar, The Mahar Regiment, was serving with 51 Special Action Group of the National Security Guard when terrorists attacked the Akshardham Swaminarayan Temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on 24 September 2002.
As the NSG Task Force moved in to deal with the terrorists, Subedar Suresh Chand Yadav formed part of the team operating against the attackers under extremely difficult conditions. The terrorists had taken positions in the open areas and under cover, making the advance particularly dangerous.
Closing In Under Heavy Fire
Subedar Suresh Chand Yadav was leading a group of commandos tasked with distracting the terrorists and providing cover for other members of the team. When one of his comrades was wounded by gunfire, he moved forward under heavy fire and evacuated the injured commando to safety.
He then saw that his Team Commander had also been pinned down by accurate enemy fire. Without regard for his own safety, Subedar Suresh Chand Yadav crawled forward and provided covering fire to enable his Team Commander to extricate himself.
He subsequently engaged the terrorists with grenades and rifle fire. When he had closed to within a few metres of one of the terrorists, he came under direct fire and sustained a burst of bullets to his face. Despite being severely wounded and bleeding heavily, he continued to advance and engaged the terrorist at close quarters.
Subedar Suresh Chand Yadav succeeded in killing one of the terrorists before succumbing to his injuries. He made the supreme sacrifice on 25 September 2002 during Operation Vajra Shakti.
For his exceptional courage, leadership, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice, Subedar Suresh Chand Yadav was awarded the Ashoka Chakra posthumously.
