Mahavir Chakra (MVC)

On 11 June 1948, at about 0545 hours enemy about 300 strong attacked our picquet at Ring Contour and under cover of low cloud managed to bring four Bren guns within 30 yards of our position. They also succeeded in blasting two of our bunkers with automatics and mortars and then taking it for a weak point tried to rush into the perimeter. But Naik Raju, who was in this bunker, though wounded, kept on firing at the enemy. When his Bren gunner was hit, he took over the Bren himself and successfully delayed the enemy's assault. It was now 0830 hours, the thick mist was lifting and the visibility was improving. Seeing the enemy crawling up to his post with fixed bayonets covered by heavy automatic fire, Naik Raju collected as many hand grenades as he could and hurled them at the enemy. It was then he was wounded badly for the second time and this time in his right eye. Even then he refused to leave his post till Havildar Gopala Kurup forcibly removed him to a place of safety

In this successful action, Naik Raju showed great courage and set an example of leadership and devotion to duty in the very finest traditions of the service.