Raw courage

The name of Major Nawajesh N. Patel of 9 Para (Special Forces) featured in the Republic Day 2013 list of gallantry awards of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. He received the Sena Medal for gallantry. Behroze Patel of Secunderabad sent Parsiana an account of what the defence services officer, who has been serving with the 21 Rashtriya Rifles (Guards) 7 Sector since September 15, 2011, did to merit this recognition.
On August 2, 2012 at 13.00 hours, acting on a tipoff about the presence in Handwara, north Kashmir, of terrorist Hanzla, divisional commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Patel speedily laid a cordon around the target area. This was to prevent collateral damage to other houses in the congested locality. Deploying himself barely 10 ft from the house, he had the civilians from the neighboring houses evacuated and sent to safety. A firefight ensued during which Patel controlled and coordinated the firing, ensuring that the terrorist was unable to escape. Displaying raw courage, Patel closed in, lobbing hand grenades to flush out the terrorist, the write-up narrates.
The house caught fire and Hanzla attempted to escape, firing indiscriminately. Undeterred by the immense odds, Patel moved out of cover and shot the terrorist dead at very close range, reveals the write-up