JP Nirala 1st IAF commando to get Ashoka Chakra for ground combat
Martyred Indian Air Force Garud Commando Jyoti Prakash Nirala has been posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra on the 69th Republic Day, becoming the first-ever airman to receive the honour for a ground combat operation. He has been honoured for his role in last year's counter-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir, where he killed two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists despite being shot thrice.