Lance Naik, Nazir Wani
Lance Naik, Nazir Ahmad Wani hailing from Kulgam, Sena medal recipient died during the Shopian encounter on SundayTwitter

An ex-militant-turned-Indian Army soldier Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani was among those killed during the Shopian encounter on Sunday which left six Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba militants dead.

Wani, who joined Indian Army in 2004, was earlier acting as an Ikhwan (an insurgent who turns into an informer) and had been a part of many breakthrough counter-insurgent operations which led to the arrest and killing of top militants.

Wani was awarded Sena Medal twice for his exemplary work - in 2004 and August this year.

The Lance Naik, who started his career with the Territorial Army's 162 Batallion in 2004, was given a 21-gun salute on Monday in Srinagar as his colleagues and family bid him a final goodbye.

Indian Army and chief Bipin Rawat paid glowing tributes to Wani on Twitter.

Wani hailed from militancy affected Ashmuji village of Kulgam district and is survived by his wife and two sons.

An Army official told PTI that Wani was shifted to a nearby hospital after he was shot during the encounter but could not survive.