New Delhi: On the eve of Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu approved the conferment of gallantry awards, including four Kirti and 18 Shaurya Chakras to 103 personnel of the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces.
A Defence Ministry statement said that out of four Kirti Chakras, three personnel will be awarded posthumously and four Shaurya Chakras out of 18 will be a awarded posthumously.
The bravehearts to be honoured with Kirti Chakra include Army Colonel Manpreet Singh, Sikh Light Infantry/19th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous), Major Malla Ram Gopal Naidu, Maratha Light Infantry/56th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles (Posthmous), Rifleman Ravi Kumar, Jammu and Kashmir Light. Infantry/63rd Battalion Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous) and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Himayun Muzammil Bhatt (posthumous).
Moreover, one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 63 Sena Medals (Gallantry) including two posthumous, 11 Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) and six Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry) have also been approved.
The President also approved 39 Mention-in-Despatches, including to Army Dog Kent (posthumous) for their significant contributions in different military operations. The operations include Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Sahayata, Operation Hifazat, Operation Orchid and Operation Katchal.
The bravehearts awarded the Shaurya Chakra include Army Colonel Pawan Singh, 666 Army Aviation Squadron (R&O), Major CVS Nikhil, 21st Battalion Parachute Regiment, Major AAshish Dhonchak, Sikh Light Infantry/19th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous), Major Tripatpreet Singh, Army Service Corps/34th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles, Major Sahil Randhawa, The Regiment of Artillery/34th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles, Subedar Sanjeev Singh Jasrotia, 5th Battalion Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Naib Subedar P Pabin Singha, Artillery Regiment/56th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles, Sepoy Pardeep Singh, Sikh Light Infantry/19th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous), SPO Abdul Latif, Jammu and Kashmir Police C/O 33rd Battalion Rashtriya Rifles, Captain Sharad Sinsunwal, Commanding Officer INS Kolkata, Lieutenant Commander Kapil Yadav (44003-F), AEO INS Visakhapatnam, Air Force Pilots Wing Commander Vernon Desmond Keane, Squadron Leader Deepak Kumar, Pawan Kumar, CT/GD, CRPF (posthumous), Devan C, CT/GD, CRPF (posthumous), Lakhveer, Deputy Commandant, CRPF, Rajesh Panchal, AC , CRPF and Malkit Singh, CT/GD, CRPF.