Major Mohit Sharma was an Indian Army Officer who was martyred in action on 21 March 2009 in the crossfire during an encounter with terrorists in the Kupwara district of North Kashmir. He was a part of the 1 Para (SF) unit, and he was leading his Bravo Assault Team when they were attacked by the terrorists.
Wiki/Biography
Major Mohit Sharma was born on Friday, 13 January 1978 (age 31 years; at the time of death) in Rohtak, Haryana. His zodiac sign is Capricorn. Mohit Sharma took admission to Manav Sthali School, Delhi in 1983, and then he transferred to Delhi Public School, Ghaziabad in 1988. He completed his schooling in 1995, and then he joined the National Defence Academy, Pune to fulfil his dream of serving the country. After completing his bachelor’s degree from the NDA, Mohit joined the Indian Military Academy in 1998. He was appointed as the Battalion Cadet Adjutant because of his performance in the Indian Military Academy in 1998. He also got the chance to meet the then President of India K. R. Narayanan at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 6′ 1″
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black
Family & Caste
Parents & Siblings
Mohit Sharma’s father’s name is Rajendra Prasad Sharma, and his mother’s name is Sushila Sharma. He has an elder brother, Madhur Sharma.
Major Mohit Sharma (left) with his parents and elder brother Madhur Sharma (right)
Wife
Mohit Sharma was married to Major Rishima Sharma at the time of his death.
Military Career
Mohit Sharma passed out from the Indian Military Academy in 1999 and he was posted as a lieutenant to the 5th Battalion ‘The Madras Regiment’ in Hyderabad. After completing three years of service, Mohit decided to train as a Para (Special Forces) commando, and he completed his training in June 2003. He was promoted to the rank of captain in December 2003.
From Mohit Sharma to Iftikhar Bhatt
In 2004, Mohit Sharma was sent to Kashmir for his next posting where he was given the mission to infiltrate the Islamic terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen. Mohit managed to get in touch with two members of the group under an alias name, Iftikhar Bhatt. To get himself look familiar with the locals and the terrorist group, Mohit grew his hair and beard to fit the stereotypical look of a terrorist. After his contact with the terrorists, Mohit met two terrorists of the group, Abu Sabzar and Abu Torara, in Shopian, Kashmir Valley. Major Mohit then cooked a story to convince the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists about his plans to attack the Indian Army. He told them that he wanted to avenge his brother’s death, and he wanted to attack an army checkpoint. He showed them the necessary roadmaps and gave information about the movement of the army troops. One of the terrorists was suspicious of Mohit, but they both decided to help him execute his plan. After a few days, the terrorist duo returned with grenades, ammunition, and three terrorists from a nearby village. On the day of the attack, the terrorists got into a small argument regarding the credibility of Mohit Sharma, and he seized the opportunity and shot both the terrorists with his pistol.
The Last Fight of His Life
On completion of the mission, Mohit Sharma was promoted to the rank of Major in December 2005, and he was awarded the Sena Medal for the covert operation in Shopian, Kashmir. He then got transferred to Belgaum as an instructor to look after the training of more commandos for the Para SF. In 2008, he was sent back to Kashmir where he lost his life in an encounter with a group of terrorists in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir.
Major Mohit Sharma during a patrol round in Jammu and Kashmir
Ashoka Chakra
On 26 January 2010, Major Mohit Sharma was awarded the highest peacetime gallantry award of the nation, Ashoka Chakra (posthumous), by the Government of India. His wife, Major Rishima Sharma, received the award from the President of India Pratibha Patil. The official statement for the award read-
Major Mohit Sharma, SM was leading Bravo Assault Team in operations in Kupwara District of North Kashmir. A valiant warrior, he excelled in the art of fighting guerrillas in jungle terrain having earlier spent four years in Jammu & Kashmir. On 21 March 2009, after receiving information of presence of some infiltrating terrorists in dense Haphruda Forest, he planned meticulously and led his commandos in tracking them. On observing suspicious movement, he alerted his scouts but terrorists fired from three directions indiscriminately. In the heavy exchange of fire, four commandos were wounded immediately. With complete disregard to his safety, he crawled and recovered two soldiers to safety. Unmindful of the overwhelming fire, he threw grenades and killed two terrorists but was shot in the chest. In the brief respite that followed, he kept directing his commandos, in spite of serious injuries. Sensing further danger to his comrades, he charged in a daring close quarter combat killing two more terrorists and attained martyrdom fighting for his motherland in the finest traditions of Indian Army.
For this act of conspicuous gallantry, inspiring leadership and exceptional courage far beyond call of duty, Major Mohit Sharma, SM was awarded ‘Ashok Chakra’ (Posthumous) on 15 Aug 09.“
Major Mohit Sharma’s wife, Major Rishima Sharma receiving the Ashoka Chakra award
Death
Mohit Sharma was leading the Bravo Assault Team for an operation in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. On 21 March 2009, he received the information that some terrorists had entered the dense Haphruda forests. He decided to track down the terrorists and kill them but, the terrorists opened fire at the scouts, wounding four commandos immediately. Mohit Sharma crawled towards two of his soldiers to take them to safety, and he threw grenades in the enemies direction, killing two terrorists. Mohit Sharma got injured in the heavy crossfire but, he decided to go for close-range combat and killed two more terrorists and laid down his life for the nation.
Facts/Trivia
- Mohit Sharma liked playing the guitar.
Major Mohit Sharma playing the guitar
- In 2019, the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) renamed two stations of the metro’s red line extension. The extension connects Dilshad Garden with New Bus Adda and they were renamed in honour of the country’s fallen soldiers. According to the statement of a DMRC official-
The Rajendra Nagar Metro Station has been rechristened as Major Mohit Sharma Rajendra Nagar station and the end station New Bus Adda has been renamed to Shaheed Sthal (New Bus Adda).”
Picture of Major Mohit Sharma Rajendra Nagar metro station
- Drishyam Films and Applause Entertainment have come together to make a film on the life of the Ashoka Chakra awardee Major Mohit Sharma, and his time in the Islamic terrorist organization. The poster for the movie was released on 22 January 2021, and the movie is set to release in August 2022.
The first look of the upcoming movie ‘Iftikhar’
- On 24 January 2021, the singing reality TV show Indian Idol dedicated the episode scheduled for that day to the Indian Armed Forces personnel, and the show also remembered Major Mohit Sharma’s sacrifice for the country. Madhur Sharma, Mohit Sharma’s elder brother, was invited as a guest on the show for the special episode.
