New Delhi | Colonel Manpreet Singh and Deputy Superintendent of police Himayun Muzzammil Bhat, who laid down their lives displaying extreme bravery in an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag in September last year, were on Wednesday posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, the country's second-highest peacetime gallantry award.
Major Aashish Dhonchak and Sepoy Pardeep Singh, who also sacrificed their lives in the operation in densely forested hills of Anantnag, were posthumously conferred the Shaurya Chakra, the third highest peacetime gallantry award.
Besides Col Singh and Bhatt, two other security forces personnel Rifleman Ravi Kumar (posthumous) and Major Malla Rama Gopal Naidu, were also awarded the Kirti Chakra.
On the eve of the Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu, who is also supreme commander of the armed forces, approved a total of 103 gallantry awards. Besides four Kirti Chakras, the gallantry awards included 18 Shaurya Chakras (four posthumous), one Bar to Sena Medal, 63 Sena Medals, 11 Nao Sena Medal and six Vayu Sena Medals.
Col Singh's citation said he displayed "raw courage and unparalleled leadership" by leading from the front in the operation.
As the terrorist hideout was identified, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire in a bid to escape, but unmindful of his own safety, Col Singh returned fire resulting in killing of one terrorist, according to the citation.
"Displaying extraordinary leadership, the officer quickly reorganised the party to plug the escape routes. He continued to direct fire on the terrorists. However, in the ensuing gunfight Colonel Singh sustained severe gunshot wound on the forehead," it said.
"Colonel Singh, Sena Medal, displayed raw courage and unparalleled leadership by leading from the front. His undaunting valour and quick decision making led to the elimination of one terrorist and preventing escape of other terrorists," it said.
Bhat's citation said he too displayed "rare courage" and led his column from the front, adding his "extraordinary valour" led to the elimination of one hardcore terrorist.
President Murmu has 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 Shaurya Chakra awardees are Colonel Pawan Singh of Army Aviation Squadron, Major CVS Nikhil of 21st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), Major Aashish Dhonchak of Sikh Light Infantry (posthumous), Major Tripatpreet Singh of Army Service Corps/34 Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles and Major Sahil Randhawa of the Regiment of Artillery/ 34 Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles.
Subedar Sanjeev Singh Jasrotia of fifth battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Naib Subedar P Pabin Singha of the Regiment of Artillery/56th Rashtriya Rifles, Sepoy Pardeep Singh of the Sikh Light Infantry/ 19th battalion of Rashtriya Rifles (posthumous), Abdul Latif of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Captain Sharad Sinsunwal, the Commanding officer of Indian Naval Ship Kolkata, were also conferred the Shaurya Chakra.
The other Shaurya Chakra awardees are: Lt Commander Kapil Yadav of the Indian Navy, Wing Commander Vernon Desmind Keane of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Squadron Leader Deepak Kumar of IAF, Pawan Kumar of CRPF (posthumous) and Devan C of CRPF (posthumous).
Lakhveer, Deputy Commandant of the CRPF, Rajesh Panchal of CRPF and Malkit Singh, also from the CRPF, were also conferred the Shaurya Chakra.
The President also approved one President's Tatrakshak Medal and three Tatrakshak Medals to Indian Coast Guard personnel.
New Delhi | IAF's Wing Commander Vernon Desmond Keane, who displayed exceptional courage, perseverance and composure in recovering a "gravely stricken aircraft" during multiple life-threatening situations last year, was conferred the Shaurya Chakra on Wednesday.
He and fellow flying pilot Squadron Leader Deepak Kumar are among the 18 Shaurya Chakra awardees, including four posthumously.
The Shaurya Chakra is India's third-highest peacetime gallantry award after the Ashok Chakra and Kirti Chakra.
On the eve of the Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu approved a total of 103 Gallantry awards to the armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel.
The Defence Ministry shared the citation of the two Shaurya Chakra awardees from the Indian Air Force (IAF), among others.
"On July 24 last year, during a sortie on Jaguar fighter aircraft, he experienced an unprecedented 'Oil 1' and 'Oil 2' failure warning. The warning indicated a major 'Oil system' malfunction warranting immediate shut down of both engines to prevent their imminent seizure. Such a situation had never occurred in the past and actions for such system failure have not been envisaged," reads the citation of Wing Commander Keane.
The pilot while maintaining a calm composure decided to shut down the left engine and initiated recovery using the right engine for the closest runway. While on approach, at an altitude of 2500 feet, the right engine "failed catastrophically". The aircraft was now in a powerless glide, losing altitude rapidly and approaching densely populated Gorakhpur town.
"Since the only serviceable engine had also seized, the situation warranted an immediate ejection. The pilot while displaying superlative flying skills, controlled the aircraft, turned away to prevent loss of civilian life and property in case of a probable ejection and jettisoned empty fuel tanks clear of populated area. He simultaneously decided to attempt relight on the left engine and successfully revived it. He then deftly controlled and recovered the aircraft safely off a single engine," it added.
During these "multiple life-threatening situations, the officer displayed exceptional courage, perseverance and composure in recovering a gravely stricken aircraft”, the citation reads.
"His undaunted courageous decision to remain with the stricken aircraft while displaying superlative piloting skills and exceptional situational awareness ensured the safety of a valuable national asset and precluded a probable loss of lives and property on ground," the ministry said.
The act for which Squadron Leader Kumar has been conferred the Shaurya Chakra took place on August 25 last year.
He was authorised to fly an instructional night sortie in a Kiran aircraft along with a trainee pilot. The sortie was being flown during dark night. While going around after a low overshoot, the aircraft "experienced a bird hit resulting in engine flame out". At this stage of flight, the undercarriage had been retracted and was in the process of going up, reads his citation.
He promptly assessed the situation and took a decision to force land the aircraft straight ahead. He simultaneously directed the flight cadet to lower the under carriage. Despite limited cues available in the night, he used his "exceptional judgement and superlative flying skills" to force land the aircraft on the runway. The available length of the runway after landing was just about 1,000 feet, wherein his prompt actions of switching off, braking and engagement of arrester barrier resulted in safe stopping of aircraft, with minimum damage, it said.
These actions gain more credence considering the shorter than normal runway at Hakimpet, dark night conditions offering less cues to the pilot for force landing and in an extremely compressed time frame for reacting, the citation reads.
"During this life-threatening situation, the officer displayed exceptional courage, perseverance and composure in recovering a gravely stricken aircraft. His undaunted courageous decision to force land the aircraft on a dark night required superlative piloting skills and exceptional situational awareness, thus ensuring the safety of a valuable national asset and precluding a probable loss of lives," it adds.
New Delhi | The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been awarded the highest number of police gallantry medals -- 57 -- on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day. This includes five Shaurya Chakras.
The Union Home Ministry declared the names of the awardees on Wednesday.
Out of the total medals, 25 decorations have been awarded for action during operations in Jammu and Kashmir while 32 are for anti-Maoist operations in various Left Wing Extremism affected states, a senior CRPF officer said.
Among the awardees is Sub-Inspector Raushan Kumar, who has been honoured with the bravery medal posthumously for his gallant action against Maoists in Bihar in February 2019.
Assistant Commandant Teja Ram Choudhary has been awarded two gallantry medals this time for displaying courage in separate operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, the official said.
Among the recipients of the Shaurya Chakra, given by the Defence Ministry, are Constable (posthumous) Pawan Kumar, Constable (posthumous) Devan C, Deputy Commandant Lakhveer, Assistant Commandant Rajesh Panchal and Constable Malkit Singh.
Jammu and Kashmir Police received the second highest number of bravery medals at 31 while Uttar Pradesh Police and Maharashtra Police won 17 medals each.
The CRPF, with about 3.25 lakh personnel in its ranks, is the country's largest paramilitary force and is primarily deputed for operations in Jammu and Kashmir, northeastern states and Maoist violence-hit states apart from guarding many high-risk VIPs.
