MN Rai

Colonel MN Rai YSM SC
Born	Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh
Died	(2015-01-27)27 January 2015 Jammu Kashmir
Allegiance	India
Branch	Indian Army
Service years	1997-2015
Rank	File:Colonel of the Indian Army.svg Colonel
Service number	IC55822X
Unit	9 Gorkha Regiment
Commands	42 Rashtriya Rifles 9 Gorkha Regiment
Conflicts	Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir †
Awards	File:Shaurya Chakra ribbon.svg Shaurya Chakra(Posthumus) File:Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg Yudh Seva Medal

Colonel MN Rai YSM, SC was a well decorated officer of the Indian Army who was a recipient of the Yudh Seva Medal. Rai died in a counterintelligence operation in Jammu and Kashmir on 27 January 2015. He was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra.

Military career

Rai joined the Indian Army in 1997 and was commissioned in 9 Gorkha Rifles. Rai was awarded with Yudh Seva Medal on 26 January 2015, a day before his death for his actions in South Kashmir in 2014. He used to lead the operations from the front.

On 27 January 2015, his unit had received information about presence of terrorists in their operational area in Kashmir. Upon receiving the information, an immediate operation was launched by the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force and the Indian Police.

Reaching at the terrorist hideout, the security forces surrounded them from all sides and gave them an opportunity to surrender. However, the terrorists started firing at the security forces. During the exchange of fire, Rai was shot and was taken for medical Treatment. He couldn't survive and died the same day.

Along with Rai, head constable Sanjeev Singh also died.

Funeral

Rai was cremated with full military honour. The then Army Chief, Dalbir Singh Suhag paid tribute to Rai.

Rai's daughter, Alka, shouted the war cry of the Gorkha regiments "Ayo Gorkhali" (The Gorkhas are here) at his funeral. This incident went viral on the Internet. Later this incident was depicted in the 2019 film Uri: The Surgical Strike.