The life and service of Major Mohit Sharma (1978–2009) stand as a testament to exceptional courage and tactical brilliance within the Indian Army. A key figure in counter-insurgency operations, Major Sharma was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, for his sacrifice.

The story of his undercover work, particularly a daring operation in the early 2000s, has become legendary. Operating under the alias Iftikhar Bhatt, Major Sharma successfully infiltrated a major terrorist organization, reportedly the Hizbul Mujahideen.

Infiltration as a Sidekick

To gain the complete trust of the militants, Major Sharma adopted the persona of a local whose family had supposedly suffered at the hands of the Indian government—a common narrative used to sow distrust. For two weeks, he lived with two key operatives, not as an equal, but as a dedicated servant. His duties involved mundane but essential tasks: cooking meals, chopping firewood, cleaning, and preparing local specialties, including the traditional Kashmiri tea, kahwa. By making himself indispensable and showing unwavering loyalty in his assumed role, he gradually convinced the militants that he was “one of them.”

The Ultimate Test of Trust

The operation came to a head when the two terrorists prepared to leave for a mission. Major Sharma insisted on joining them, but the militants, still harboring a sliver of doubt due to his relative newness, refused.

In a move that defined his sheer audacity, Mohit Sharma escalated the situation. He grabbed one of the militants’ own AK-47 assault rifles and presented it to them, issuing an extraordinary challenge:

“If you still don’t trust me after everything I’ve done, then shoot me now and be done with it.”

This breathtaking display of confidence had the intended effect. It fully convinced the militants of his trustworthiness and loyalty.

The Point-Blank Action

In the moments immediately following the challenge, as their guard was down, Major Sharma acted with lightning speed. He seized a hidden pistol from a nearby surface—likely a table—and, without hesitation, fired two point-blank shots, neutralizing both terrorists instantly.

The most famous, almost unbelievable, detail of the operation followed. Instead of immediately leaving, Major Sharma is reported to have calmly sat down amidst the chaos he had just created, took a cup of the hot kahwa he had brewed that morning, and finished it.

Only then did he radio his unit with the simple, iconic message confirming the mission’s success:

“Boss, aa jao, kaam ho gaya hai.” (Boss, come, the work is done.)

Major Sharma was martyred in 2009 during an anti-insurgency operation in the Kupwara sector of Jammu and Kashmir. For his exemplary leadership and unyielding bravery, he was honored with the Ashok Chakra in 2010. His ability to maintain composure, execute a flawless infiltration, and strike decisively in a moment of supreme peril remains an inspiration in the annals of Indian military history.