Jyoti Prakash Nirala

Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, AC (15 November 1986 – 18 November 2017) was a member of the Garud Commando Force. He was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime military decoration in January 2018. He is the first airman to receive the award for ground combat and only the third one to receive it overall after Suhas Biswas and Rakesh Sharma.

Early and personal life Nirala was a resident of the Badiladih village of Rohtas district, Bihar. He was born on 15 November 1986, in Hindu family to Tej Narayan Singh Yadav and Malti Devi.

Jyoti Prakash Nirala was married to Sushma Nand Yadav in 2010 and they have a daughter Jigyasa Kumari.

Military service Nirala joined the Garud Commando Force of the Indian Air Force in 2005. His unit was deputed to the 13 Rashtriya Rifles and stationed in Jammu and Kashmir under Operation Rakshak.

Ashok Chakra Jyoti Prakash Nirala's widow and mother receive the Ashok Chakra from president Ram Nath Kovind on 26 January 2018. A joint offensive was launched by the Garud detachment and the 13 Rashtriya Rifles in Chanderger village, Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir based on technical intelligence. His detachment covertly approached the house that had suspected militants hiding in it and laid a close quarter ambush. Nirala, armed with a light machine gun, positioned himself close to the approach of the hideout, cutting off all escape routes.