The President approved awards of 455 Gallantry and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others on the eve of 72nd Republic Day celebrations. Colonel Santosh Babu was awarded Mahavir Chakra (Posthumously) – the second highest wartime gallantry award for displaying exceptional leadership and bravery during the Galwan Valley clash with People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers in June last year. He was the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment. ‘Indian Army Soldiers Have Fired Warning Shots at PLA Troops at Line of Actual Control in Ladakh’, Claims China.
Col Santosh Babu laid down his life while fighting Chinese troops in the Eastern Ladakh sector on June 16, 2020. Five other soldiers of the Indian Army were awarded Vir Chakra – the third highest wartime gallantry award -for displaying bravery during the Galwan Valley clash. These fiver bravehearts are – Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren of 16 Bihar (Posthumously), Havildar K Palani of 81 Field Regiment (Posthumously), Havildar Tejinder Singh of 3 Medium Regiment, Naik Deepak Singh of 16 Bihar (Posthumously), Sepoy Gurtej Singh of 3 Punjab (Posthumously).
Lieutenant Harinder Singh, the Fire and Fury Corps Commander, at the time of Galwan clash, was also named for Param Vashisht Seva Medal. Lt Gen Singh served as the Fire and Fury Corps commander from October 2019 till October 2020.
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The violent clashes erupted on the intervening night of June 15 and 16. In the face-off 20 Indian Army soldiers, including a commanding officer of Bihar Regiment, were martyred. According to reports, 45 PLA soldiers were killed or severely injured in the clashes. However, China have not yet confirmed the number of casualties suffered by its army.
The gallantry awards approved by the President, include one Mahavir Chakra, 05 Kirti Chakras, 05 Vir Chakras, 07 Shaurya Chakras, 04 Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry),130 Sena Medal (Gallantry), one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), 04 Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 30 Param VishishtSeva Medal (PVSM), 04 UttamYudhSeva Medal (UYSM) and 51 AtiVishishtSeva Medal (AVSM).
The gallantry awards approved by the President, include one Mahavir Chakra, 05 Kirti Chakras, 05 Vir Chakras, 07 Shaurya Chakras, 04 Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry),130 Sena Medal (Gallantry), one Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), 04 Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 30 Param VishishtSeva Medal (PVSM), 04 UttamYudhSeva Medal (UYSM) and 51 AtiVishishtSeva Medal (AVSM).
Meanwhile, Major Anuj Sood, who attained martyrdomduring the Handwara encounter in May last year was awrded Shaurya Chakra- the third highest peacetime gallantry award. Col Ashutosh Sharma, who laid down his life during the same encounter while fighting terrorist was named for Bar To Sena Medal (Gallantry).
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