Meet Major Ashish Dahiya: The Braveheart Who Risked It All to Save Lives in Pulwama

In the battlefields of Jammu and Kashmir, where courage is tested in every breath and every bullet, one name now echoes with honour, Major Ashish Dahiya of the 50th Battalion, The Rashtriya Rifles. This gallant officer from The Corps of Engineers has been conferred with the Shaurya Chakra, one of India’s highest peacetime gallantry awards, for his fearless leadership, unparalleled bravery, and unwavering commitment to the mission and his men.

On 2nd June 2024, Major Dahiya led a meticulously planned operation in a hostile village in Pulwama district, Jammu & Kashmir. What unfolded next would test every fibre of his courage and tactical brilliance.

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During the initial phase, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire and hurled grenades. Without hesitation, Major Dahiya retaliated with surgical precision, injuring one terrorist attempting to escape. Amid the chaos, a grenade blast wounded one of his own—his operation buddy. With total disregard for his personal safety, Major Dahiya crawled through the firefight, reached his injured comrade, and dragged him to safety.

But he didn’t stop there.

Realising the threat still loomed, he advanced alone, stealthily closing in on the enemy under intense fire. In a close-quarter encounter, he eliminated a top A++ category terrorist, the longest-surviving militant in South Kashmir. Even after neutralising the threat, Major Dahiya once again exposed himself to enemy fire to ensure the safe evacuation of his injured teammate—an act that saved a life and displayed unparalleled camaraderie.

Son of the late Lance Naik Ashok Dahiya and Mrs. Savita, Major Dahiya is a living embodiment of valor born from legacy. Carrying forward his father’s service, he has become a symbol of what it means to serve the nation with heart, grit, and glory.

In May 2025, President Droupadi Murmu honoured Major Ashish Dahiya with the Shaurya Chakra at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The citation recognises his instrumental role in the neutralisation of four hardcore terrorists and detection of three IEDs across five high-risk operations since June 2022.

“For his dauntless courage, selfless commitment to men and mission, audacious planning, and intrepid execution of a critical operation, Major Ashish Dahiya has been rightfully recognised with the Shaurya Chakra.”

Major Ashish Dahiya’s tale is not just of one brave operation—it’s a reminder of the daily sacrifices our soldiers make to protect the sovereignty of our nation. His actions saved lives, eliminated threats, and upheld the honour of the Indian Army.

As citizens, we often speak of bravery. But Major Ashish Dahiya lived it—in the face of death, for the sake of his men, and for the love of his country. His story is not just worth telling—it is worth remembering.

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