Commando Surjan Singh Bhandari
Commando
Died
19 May 2004
Honours
About
NSG commando shot in the head while assaulting the Akshardham temple complex on 24 September 2002. He fought on despite being critically wounded, fell into a coma, and attained martyrdom 600 days later on 19 May 2004.
Full Story
On 24 September 2002, two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists stormed the Akshardham Swaminarayan temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, killing 30 civilians and wounding 80. NSG commandos were flown in from Delhi to neutralise the threat. During the assault on the temple complex, Commando Surjan Singh Bhandari engaged the terrorists at close quarters. He was shot in the head and critically wounded, yet his actions helped neutralise the attackers and prevent further civilian casualties. He was evacuated but never regained consciousness. He lay in a coma for 600 days. On Republic Day 2003, while still in a coma, President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam awarded him the Kirti Chakra. He attained martyrdom on 19 May 2004.