Independence Day Gallantry Awards: Col Manpreet Singh, 3 others awarded Kirti Chakra – See full list

Colonel Manpreet Singh, who died in battle while leading from the front Lieutenant Colonel Birender Singh, who was martyred in a counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag in September last year, has been posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry award.

Three other security force personnel – Rifleman Ravi Kumar (posthumously), Major Malla Ram Gopal Naidu, Deputy Superintendent of Police Jammu and Kashmir Police Himayun Muzammil Bhatt (posthumously) – was also awarded the Kirti Chakra.

Colonel Singh was a veteran soldier and was awarded the Sena Medal during his tenure as second-in-command of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles.

Bhat also lost his life in this operation.

On the eve of Independence Day, President Drupada Murmu According to the Defence Ministry, the central government has approved a total of 103 gallantry awards for personnel of the armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces.

Apart from four Kirti Chakras, the gallantry awards include 18 Shaurya Chakras (four posthumously), one Bar to Sena Medal, 63 Sena Medals, 11 Navy Medals and six Vayu Sena Medals.

President Murmu also approved 39 Mention-in-Despatches, including one to Army dog ​​Kent (posthumously) for his significant contribution in various military operations.

These operations include Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Sahayata, Operation Hifazat, Operation Orchid and Operation Kachhal.

The Shaurya Chakra awardees include Colonel Pawan Singh of Army Aviation Squadron, Major CVS Nikhil of 21st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), Major Ashish Dhonchak (posthumous) of the Sikh Light Infantry, Major Tripatpreet Singh of 34th Battalion of the Army Service Corps/Rashtriya Rifles and Major Sahil Randhawa of 34th Battalion of the Artillery Regiment/Rashtriya Rifles.

Subedar Sanjeev Singh Jasrotia of the 5th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Naib Subedar P Pabin Singha of the Artillery Regiment of the 56th Rashtriya Rifles, Sepoy Pradeep Singh (posthumously) of the Sikh Light Infantry of the 19th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles, Abdul Latif of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Captain Sharad Singhsuwal, Commanding Officer of Indian Naval Ship Kolkata were also awarded the Shaurya Chakra.

Other Shaurya Chakra award winners The martyrs include: Lieutenant Commander Kapil Yadav of the Indian Navy, Wing Commander Vernon Desmond Keane of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Squadron Leader Deepak Kumar of the IAF, Pawan Kumar (posthumous) of the CRPF and Devan C (posthumous) of the CRPF.

CRPF Deputy Commandant Lakhveer, CRPF’s Rajesh Panchal and CRPF’s Malkit Singh were also awarded the Shaurya Chakra.