Lt Col Elambulassery Kalarikkal Niranjan was born on 02 May 1981 in Palghat district of Kerala. Lt Col Niranjan’s ancestors hailed from a village called, Elambulassery in Palghat district and they belonged to Kalarikkal lineage. The second youngest of the four siblings, Lt Col Niranjan grew up with his two brothers and a sister in Bangalore where his father was employed in Bharat Electronics Limited. He studied from Stella Mary’s school Bangalore up to 3rd standard and then went on to complete his matriculation from BP Indian Public school Bangalore. Thereafter he did his PU degree from BEL PU composite college Bangalore and then his degree in engineering from Sir MVIT college Bangalore.
He got commissioned into the Corps of Engineers on 17 Sep 2004 and was posted to 10 Engineers Regiment at Tezpur in Assam. Subsequently, Lt Col Niranjan served in various units located at Udhampur, Vairangty Gate(Mizoram), Ranchi and Srinagar in J & K. Later, he went on deputation to the elite NSG and worked in its Bomb Disposal Squad. Lt Col Niranjan got married to Radhika KG on 31 Mar 2013 and was blessed with a daughter on 04 Apr 2015. On joining the NSG, Lt Col Niranjan got inducted into the Bomb Disposal Squad and became the officer commanding of the unit on 24 May 2014.

IAF Base Attack: 01 Jan 2016

On 01 January 2016, the Air Force Station Pathankot of the Indian Air Force was attacked by a heavily armed terrorist group. Disguised in Indian Army uniforms, the terrorists infiltrated the base, after breaching the station security perimeter. They advanced towards the area where the high-value assets were kept but were soon intercepted by the Indian security forces. In the ensuing 15-hour gun battle, 4 attackers and two soldiers from the Defence Security Corps were killed along with one commando of the elite IAF’s special Guard unit.

Next morning, the Bomb Disposal Team under the leadership of Lt Col Niranjan was launched to undertake Render Safe Procedure (RSP) and Post Blast Operations Analysis(PBOA). Lt Col Niranjan led his team by example in motivating them to do the assigned task. The thick vegetation and undulating terrain made the task very challenging. The presence of grenades and other explosive devices rendered the approach to the dead bodies of the slain soldiers extremely difficult. However, nothing could stop Lt Col Niranjan and his team and they swung into action with the utmost courage and exemplary professional acumen. Lt Col Niranjan led from the front and effectively handled two dead bodies after neutralizing the booby traps.

With utter disregard to his own life Lt Col Niranjan continued to carry out the area sanitation during which a booby trap got activated. Lt Col Niranjan absorbed most of the splinters, hence screening his comrades behind him. Lt Col Niranjan later succumbed to his injuries and was martyred. For his act of bravery, indomitable spirit and sacrifice Lt Col Niranjan was awarded “Shaurya Chakra” posthumously on 15 August 2016.

Source:https://www.honourpoint.in/