Vir Chakra (VrC)

During the operations against Pakistan in December 1971, Naik Maruti Nakil was the MMG section commander with a company of Maratha Light Infantry. The company was acting as the vanguard for the battalion's advance in an area in the Eastern Sector. The enemy brought down accurate and intensive artillery fire. Simultaneously, three medium machine guns opened from a flank and started inflicting heavy casualties. Naik Maruti Nakil, in complete disregard for his safety, brought his section into immediate action and silenced one of the enemy medium machine guns. In the process Naik Maruti Nakil was hit by a burst of medium machine gun fire as a result of which he died. In this action Naik Maruti Nakil displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.