Narender Singh Ahlawat

Capt Narender Singh Ahlawat was the recipient of the Sena Medal, Shaurya Chakra which was awarded posthumously.

Early life
Narender Singh belonged to village Dighal in district Jhajjar district and was born to Major Ran Singh and Smt Nehali Devi. His grandfather was Chaudhary Sohan Singh Ahlawat, a prominent name in the village and a soldier who fought in world war I. He had five brothers and two sisters. While two his brothers Lt. Colonel Ramphal and Colonel Mohinder Singh Ahlawat served in the Army, one of his brother Sh. Nafe Singh Ahlawat, retired as a District and Sessions Judge, after serving in Haryana Judiciary. Another of his brother Sh. Ved Singh Ahlawat served as a DIG in the Border Security Force and his youngest brother Sh Virender Singh was an officer in Delhi Police.

Education
Narender did his schooling from King George School whereafter he graduated from DAV College, Chandigarh.

Military career
Following tradition of the family he got commissioned in 15 The Grenadiers of the Indian Army.

Joining the Army as Second Lieutenant he rose to Captain at the time of attaining martyrdom.

1971 Indo Pak War
Immediately after getting commission as a second lieutenant, he straightway went for 1971 Indo Pak war and showed highest level of gallantry in the Battle of Shakargarh. For his bravery in the war he was awarded Sena Medal by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.

His citation as published on 9 March 1974 in the official Gazette of India reads as under:

"83. Second Lieutenant NARENDER SINGH AHLAWAT (EC-25103)

The Grenadiers. On the 8th December 1971. Second Lieutenant Narender Singh Ahlawat was assigned the task of destroying a medium machine gun bunker in the Shakargarh Sector. He led his patrol with courage. and captured the machine gun inflicting casualties on the enemy.

In the action, Second Lieutenant Narender Singh Ahlawat displayed leadership and devotion to duty."

1974 Nagaland Counter Insurgency
His Citation reads as

"8. Captain NARENDER SINGH AHLAWAT (IC 25103), SM GRENADIERS

(Posthumous)

(Effective date of the award-28th November, 1974)

On the 28th November, 1974, during an operation against hostiles Captain Narender Singh Ahlawat of an infantry Regiment, was assigned the task of establishing two stops, while the main column was conducting a search. Captain Ahlawat accomplished the task and took charge of one of the stops while the other was being looked after by a Non Commissioned Officer. The Non Commissioned Officer saw some hostiles at a distance of 300 yards from his stop, and ordered his Light Machine Gun group to open fire. This took the hostiles by surprise, who ran in disarray. Some of them ran towards the stop of Captain Ahlawat who immediately lifted his stop to intercept the hostiles. Some of the hostiles rushed into the nullah. Captain Ahlawat came face to face with two hostiles whom he made to surrender. In the meantime, another hostile fired from the nullah at one of his stop members. The officer immediately engaged that hostile but in the meanwhile he got a burst in his chest. Though seriously wounded, he continued to engage that hostile and kept on instructing his stops to chase the other fleeing hostiles. He simultaneously apprised the searching column commander of the situation and then lay dead.

In this action, Captain Narender Singh Ahlawat, displayed gallantry, devotion to duty and leadership of a high Order."

For his gallant act and supreme sacrifice he was awarded Shaurya Chakra Posthumous ly.