Tufail Mohammad

Major Tufail Mohammad (; b. 22 June 1914 7 August 1958

Biography

Early life Tufail Mohammad was born in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, during the British Raj, into a Gurjar Punjabi family on 22 June 1914 according to his gravestone markings. He was educated at the D.A.V. College in Jalandhar.

His career in the military mostly served with the East Pakistan Rifles where he served as the commanding officer of the military company near the Indo-East Pakistani border.

1958 border clashes On 7 August 1958, Major Tufail made a slow quadrupedal movement towards the Indian Army posts and engaged in a firefight with the enemy forces as close as 15 yards in an attempt to make them withdraw from their positions. Despite receiving immediate medical attention, Major Tufail himself succumbed to his wounds and quoted his last word to his junior officer: "I have completed my duty; the enemy is on the run."

In 1967, he was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider by President Ayub Khan, becoming the third officer to receive the award.

Galleries

Awards and decorations

Nishan-e-Haider (Emblem of the Lion)

1958 Border Skirmish

PosthumouslyPakistan Tamgha (Pakistan Medal)

1947Tamgha-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal)

1956War Medal 1939-1945India Service Medal 1939–1945

Foreign decorations Foreign awardsWar Medal 1939-1945India Service Medal 1939–1945