Neeraj Sood

Neeraj Sood (22 November 1970 – 22 June 2010) was an colonel in the Indian Army. In June 2010, he suffered a fatal gunshot wound during a shootout against armed separatist militants in the Lolab Valley in northern Jammu and Kashmir, and subsequently died of his injuries. On January 25, 2011, Sood was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra. He was the highest-ranking officer to be killed in Kashmir in 2010.

Early life Neeraj Sood was born in Delhi on 22 November 1970 to V.K. Sood, an officer in the Military Engineer Services, and Prabha Sood. His elder brother Pankaj Sood is a government officer in the Indian Administrative Service. Neeraj attended the Indian Military Academy, where he won multiple prizes in track and field events, and graduated on December 22, 1992 as a second lieutenant.

Military career Following his graduation, Neeraj was commissioned in the 8 Rajputana Rifles as a second lieutenant in 1992. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy. During his military career, he served as an instructor at the Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, located in Variengte, Mizoram. He was posted in Jammu and Kashmir for eight years, and was given command of the 18 Rashtriya Rifles. Neeraj's unit was deployed near the Line of Control in Kupwara, a town in Jammu and Kashmir.

On 22 June 2010, Neeraj's battalion was notified that a large group of armed militants had crossed the Line of Control into the Lolab Valley. Neeraj led his troops into Kupwara, where they came under fire. During the resulting shootout, Neeraj was reportedly shot and critically injured. According to the Jammu and Kashmir police, he was airlifted to a military hospital for further treatment but ultimately died of his injuries.

Funeral On June 24, 2010, Neeraj Sood was laid to rest at the Delhi Cantonment in New Delhi with military honours. In attendance at the funeral was Neeraj's wife, Priti Sood, and their 11-year old daughter Misika. Several senior officers of the Indian military also attended his funeral to pay their respects.

Shaurya Chakra On January 25, 2011, Neeraj Sood was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra by the Ministry of Defence for his "acts of gallantry" on the battlefield. His Shaurya Chakra citation read: