New Delhi: While JNU sloganeers hogs the limelight in main stream media, the news of a Major who was awarded with a Kirti Chakra for surgical strike was sidelined. Major Rohit Suri, who led the surgical strikes against terror pads in PoK in September 2016, was awarded Kirti Chakra by President Pranab Mukherjee at a ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhawan here.
The citation for the Parachute Regiment officer said he executed the task flawlessly and killed four terrorists in close-quarter combat. The Kirti Chakra, which is the second-highest peacetime gallantry award, was conferred on Major Suri for his "decisive thinking, warrior ethos, exemplary leadership and courage beyond the call of duty”.His team was able to eliminate four terrorists in close-quarter combat, an official release said.
Member of the same team, Naib Subedar Vijay Kumar of the Parachute Regiment was presented the Shaurya Chakra for gunning down two terrorists. Corporal Gursevak Singh of the Indian Air Force (Security), who was killed while fighting terrorists at the Pathankot air base in January last year, was posthumously conferred the Shaurya Chakra.
The awards were given during the Defence Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley. The President awarded 13 Shaurya Chakras, which included six posthumous awards.
The President also presented 22 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, one Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, three Uttam Yuddh Seva Medals and 15 Param Vishisht Seva Medals. Param Vishisht Seva Medal winners included Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi, head of Eastern Command of the Indian Army, and Lt. Gen. Manoj Kumar Unni, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services. (UNI)
