Jammu and Kashmir teenager Irfan Ramzan Sheikh was conferred with the Shaurya Chakra award by President Ram Nath Kovind for foiling an attack by three terrorists on his house in 2017. Irfan was 14 years old then. In an extraordinary act of bravery, he prevented a terror attack on his house. On the intervening night of October 16-17, 2017, three terrorists came to his house with the intention of killing his father, Ramzan Sheikh, who is a political activist in Jammu and Kashmir. Hearing some noise, he opened the door in shock to find three armed terrorists standing in the verandah. In a display of courage and valour, he did not let them enter his house and pushed them away while risking his own life. Irfan’s father too came out of the house and the terrorists pounced on him and the scuffle continued. The terrorists then resorted to indiscriminate firing and in return, one of them got hurt. His father too sustained severe injuries.
On seeing one of the terrorists were injured, they tried to flee from the scene. But Irfan gave them a chase as two terrorists fled, leaving behind the body of other terrorist. Irfan had exhibited courage and maturity and fought off the terrorists, safeguarding the life of his father and other family members. The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration and it may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the adversary.
