Gallantry Awards

President's Secretariat 22-March, 2016 13:39 IST
President of India presents Gallantry Awards

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented Gallantry Awards and Distinguished Service Decorations today (March 22, 2016) at a Defence Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were the Vice-President of India, Prime Minister of India and Union Minister for Defence.


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AK/SK

List of awardees: http://pibphoto.nic.in/documents/rlink/2016/mar/p201632201.pdf


(Release ID :138241)

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PARAM VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL

1C-34003A Lieutenant General Manmohan Singh Rai, AVSM, VSM, Corps of
Engineers

1C-34014M Lieutenant General Amit Sharma, AVSM, VSM, Armoured Corps

MR-04133N Lieutenant General Bhushan Kumar Chopra, AVSM, Army Medical
Coms

Vice Admiral Parasurama Naidu Murugesan (01958-Z), AVSM, VSM, Vice Chief
of Naval Staff

1C-35036X Lieutenant General Nitin Kumar Kohli, AVSM, VSM, Corps of Signals
1C-34356A Lieutenant General Navkiran Singh Ghei, AVSM and Bar, Infantry

IC-34385P Lieutenant General Anil Kumar Ahuja, Uttam YSM, AVSM, Sena
Medal, VSMand Bar, Regiment of Artillery

IC-34402K Lieutenant General Ghanshyam Singh Katoch, AVSM, VSM, Infantry
1C-34454A Lieutenant General Gurdeep Singh, AVSM, Infantry

1C-34396F Lieutenant General Ravindran Narayan Nair, AVSM, SM, Infantry
(Retired)

IC-37022W Lieutenant General Sanjay Kulkami, AVSM, Shaurya Chakra, SM,
VSM, Infantry (Retired)

Vice Admiral Ashok Viswanath Subhedar (40735-B), AVSM, VSM, Chief of
Material

Air Marshal Pochana Prasad Reddy, VM, (15008) Flying (Pilot) (Retired)

Air Marshal Kulwant Singh Gill, AVSM, YSM, VM, (15220) Flying (Pilot)
(Retired)

Air Marshal Jagjeet Singh, VSM, (14814) Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics)
(Retired)

Air Marshal Herikudru Babu Rajaram, AVSM, VSM (14939), Administration!
Air Traffic Controller (Retired)

2. KIRTI CHAKRA

JC-413444W SUBEDAR MAHENDRA SINGH, SENA MEDAL
9™ BATTALION THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT (SPECIAL FORCES)
ATTACHED WITH 6™ BATTALION THE RASHTRIYA RIFLES

At 2015 hours on 02 September 2015, an operational team established contact
with terrorists in Haphruda forest at Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. In
fierce encounter with terrorists, two comrades of Subedar Mahendra Singh were
injured, Displaying exemplary leadership, Subedar Mahendra moved with his buddy
to evacuate his injured comrades, drawing heavy fire from the terrorists in the process.
Sensing danger to his men, Subedar Mahendra immediately returned fire. Displaying
raw aggression, he charged and eliminated one terrorist at close quarters. His
audaciousness startled the other terrorist who opened indiscriminate fire at him.
Undeterred, he closed in with the terrorists when one terrorist rushed out firing and
grievously wounded Subedar Mahendra in the abdomen. Despite his injury, which
paralysed him below the waist, he shot dead one more terrorist at point blank range.

Subedar Mahendra displayed exemplary leadership and conspicuous gallantry
in fighting with the terrorists.

3. . KIRTI CHAKRA

3986807H SEPOY JAGDISH CHAND, 546 DEFENCE SECURITY
CORPS PLATOON (POSTHUMOUS)

At about 0330 Hrs on 01/02 January 2016, when Sepoy Jagdish Chand was
on duty at Defence Security Corps lines at Pathankot Air Base, a group of armed
terrorists entered the lines and opened indiscriminate fire on the troops working
there resulting in two of his colleagues being fatally wounded. Showing presence of
mind and valour, Sepoy Jagdish Chand, unmindful of his own safety, ran after the
closest terrorist, chased and overpowered him. Sepoy Jagdish Chand snatched
the terrorists weapon to shoot him dead. In the process, two more terrorists in
vicinity opened fire on Sepoy Jagdish Chand killing him on the spot.

Sepoy Jagdish Chand displayed great presence of mind, valour and
conspicuous gallantry and made supreme sacrifice in fighting with the terrorists.

4. UTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL

IC-35479Y Lieutenant General Balwant Singh Negi, YSM, SM, VSM and Bar,
Infantry Headquarter 14 Corps

1C-35904Y Lieutenant General Sarath Chand, AVSM, VSM, Infantry,
Headquarters 4 Corps

IC-35494N Lieutenant General Subrata Saha, SM, VSM and Bar, Infantry,
Headquarters 15 Corps

BAR TO ATI VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL
1C-35650M Lieutenant General Bobby Cherian Mathews, AVSM, VSM, Infantry
Air Marshal Karath Padmadass Nair, AVSM (15195) Flying (Pilot) (Retired)
ATI VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL

IC-35137L Lieutenant General Pattiarimal Mohamadali Hariz, SM, VSM,
Mechanised Infantry

Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar, VM, VSM (15881) Flying (Pilot)

IC-31634X Lieutenant General Ravindra Singh Panwar, SM, VSM, Corps of
Signals

IC-34901Y Lieutenant General Palepu Ravi Shankar, VSM, Regiment of Artillery

1C-35109Y Lieutenant General Rajeev Vasant Kanitkar, SM, VSM, Armoured
Corps

IC-37247Y Lieutenant General Govind Singh Chandel, YSM, Infantry

1C-35796A Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh, VSM, Corps of Electronics
and Mechanical Engineers

V-00347M Lieutenant General Jagvinder Singh, VSM, Remount Veterinary
Corps

IC-39818L Lieutenant General Suresh Sharma, Corps of Engineers

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1C-34148L Lieutenant General Rajendra Prasad Rai, VSM, Army Service Corps
(Retired)

IC-34765N Lieutenant General Iqbal Singh Singha, VSM, Infantry (Retired)
Vice Admiral Srikant (02297-W), Inspector General Nuclear Safety, Indian Navy
Air Marshal Anil Khosla, VM (15871) Flying (Pilot)

IC-35480N Major General Surinder Singh, SM, VSM, Infantry

IC-39342K Major General Rajesh Sahai, SM, Infantry

1C-40353H Major General Paramjit Singh, SM, Infantry

1C-40382X Major General Arvind Dutta, VSM, Infantry

1C-38747H Major General Ramkishan Saiwal, VSM, Army Ordnance Corps
(Retired)

Rear Admiral Sri Prakash Lal (40973-W), VSM, Admiral Superintendent Naval
Dockyard, Mumbai

Rear Admiral Kishan Kumar Pandey (02329-T), VSM, Flag Officer Fleet Review
Air Vice Marshal Rajeev Sachdeva, (16582) Flying (Pilot)

Air Vice Marshal Archan Kumar Bhattacharya, VSM (16322) Aeronautical
Engineering (Mechanical)

Air Vice Marshal Jitendra Kumar Singh, VSM (16545), Aeronautical Engineering
(Mechanical)

Air Commodore Harpreet Singh Basra, VM (19174) Flying (Pilot)

6. SHAURYA CHAKRA

MOHD SHAFI SHEIKH, HEAD CONSTABLE, J&K POLICE,
DISTT HANDWARA (POSTHUMOUS)

&

SHRI REYAZ AHMAD LONE, CONSTABLE (307/H (EXK055949),
J&K POLICE, DISTT HANDWARA (POSTHUMOUS)

On 7 April, 2014, acting on a specific input regarding presence of terrorists in
a house at Gund Zunareshi Chowjuva, an operation was jointly launched by J&K
Police and Army. Adedicated team of police including Head Constable Mohd Shafi
Sheikh and Constable Reyaz Ahmad Lone, putting their lives in great risk, started
looking for hideout in the house. Suddenly, there was an indiscriminate firing from
one of the rooms. Terrorists also lobbed grenades with the intention to cause collateral
damage. During heavy exchange of firing, HC Mohd Shafi Sheikh, Constable Reyaz
Ahmad Lone and one Army Jawan received several bullet injuries. Despite constant
seeping of blood, HC Md. Safi Sheikh and Constable ReyazAhmad Lone retaliated
the fire with full wits and foiled the terrorists’ attempts to flee from encounter site
before attaining the martyrdom. Ultimately both the terrorists were neutralized.

During the operation, HC Mohd. Shafi Sheikh and Constable Reyaz Ahmad

Lone displayed gallantry, unparalleled courage and devotion to duty in fighting with
the terrorists and made supreme sacrifice.

7. SHAURYA CHAKRA

SHRI HIRA KUMAR JHA, SECOND-IN-COMMAND, 7 Bn, CRPF
(POSTHUMOUS)

On 03 July 2014, on receiving a specific information about the presence of a
dreaded Maoist Commander along with his platoon in village Lakhari, under PS Khaira,
Distt. Jamui (Bihar), Shri Hira Kumar Jha, Second-in-Command of 7" Bn. along
with the Search Party embarked on a cordon & search operation to nab the said
Maoist. During search of the houses, they faced a heavy volley of fire from a house.
Positioning tactically, Shri Jha and his party retaliated the fire. Thereafter, they were
fired upon simultaneously from other huts as well. Sensing determination of the
troops, Maoists tried to escape using civilians as shields. Shri Jha zeroed in on an
AK-47 wielding Maoist Commander, who was using a lady as his human shield.
The moment the Maoist Commander came within range of fire, Shri Jha, putting his
own life at stake, exposed himself to the Maoist. Sensing the movement of a trooper
at a distance too close for comfort, the Maoist pushed aside the human shield and
opened indiscriminate fire at the trooper. Shri Jha and his team retaliated the fire. In
the exchange of fire, one bullet pierced the skull of Shri Jha, killing him on the spot.
During the operation, three hardcore Maoists were apprehended.

Late Shri Hira Kumar Jha, Second-in-Command, 7 Bn displayed unparalleled
valour, raw courage, extreme devotion to duty and made supreme sacrifice while
fighting with the naxals.

8. SHAURYA CHAKRA
WING COMMANDER SANDEEP SINGH (25336) FLYING (PILOT)

On 21 November 2014 at 1610 hrs, Wing Commander Sandeep Singh
received a mission from Anti Naxal Task Force Commander to evacuate casualties
of CRPF troops, which had come under heavy fire from Naxals, from a forest area
in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. Despite the potent threat to life and tremendous
tisk involved, he led the mission himself. The operational experience of Wg Cdr
Sandeep Singh came in handy and with precision handling, he landed the helicopter
next to the casualties. When the helicopter lifted off from the jungle after taking in
five extremely critical casualties close to sun set, it came under a burst of fire from
automatic weapons. Undeterred and unfazed, he courageously carried out evasive
manoeuvres to minimize the exposure. Due to his deft handling of the situation, the
casualities were minimized and one crew and one other person onboard sustained
bullet hits with the aircraft remaining fly worthy.

Wing Commander Sandeep Singh displayed the selfless act of exceptional
courage and gallantry while saving five lives.

9. SHAURYA CHAKRA

IC-55822X COLONEL MUNINDRA NATH RAI, YUDH SEVA MEDAL,
THE GORKHA RIFLES / 42"° BATTALION THE RASHTRIYA RIFLES
(POSTHUMOUS)

On 27 January 2015, on receiving information about presence of dreaded
terrorist in Hunder, Tral village in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, Col.
Munindra Nath Rai rushed and cordoned the suspect house with his Quick Reaction
Team. At this, father of terrorist came out and pleaded that the terrorist would
surrender. However, two terrorists suddenly rushed out firing indiscriminately at close
quarters on commanding officer’s party. Caught in a hail of bullets and grievously
wounded, the officer in an act of incomparable gallantry closed in and killed one
dreaded terrorist in a fierce gunfight. Realising that the second terrorist was trying to
escape by firing indiscriminately, he unmindful of his grievous injuries, resited his
troops and continued to fire effectively to block the terrorist's escape route till the
time second terrorist was also eliminated by his team.

Colonel Munindra Nath Rai displayed unprecedented leadership, courage and
valour, well beyond the call of duty and made supreme sacrifice while fighting with
the terrorists.

10. SHAURYA CHAKRA

COMMANDER MILIND MOHAN MOKASHI (04755-F), COMMANDING
OFFICER, INS SUMITRA

On 31 March 2015 at about 1700 hrs, the ship INS SUMITRA was tasked to
enter the port of Aden and evacuate stranded Indians from war-torn Yemen. Fierce
fighting was reported between the rebels and the security forces of Yemen
Government, with air strikes by Saudi led coalition in and around the port city.
Commander Milind Mohan Mokashi, Commissioning Commanding Officer of the
ship, braving the heavy firing and shelling, ensured the safe embarkation of personnel
and sailed the ship out of harbour in a navigationally unsafe channel. He ensured
successful completion of the first evacuation operation by the Indian Navy from
Yemen under war-like situation. He and his young team carried out evacuation
operations from three different ports of Yemen. In the five trips made, a total of 1621
personnel (961 Indians and 660 other nationals) were evacuated to safety from the
war-torn country.

Commander Milind Mohan Mokashi displayed the valour in the highest tradition
of Navy and saved lives of 1621 personnel.

11. SHAURYA CHAKRA

SL-05351Y LIEUTENANT HARJINDER SINGH /THE GENERAL
SERVICE / 37° BATTALION THE KUMAON REGIMENT

On observing presence of 3 terrorists in front of Halka Zero Ambush Point in
Jammu & Kashmir on 5% June 2015 at about 2230 hours, Lieutenant Harjinder Singh
continuously tracked the move of terrorists. He engaged the infiltrators with the
effective fire, which forced the terrorists to move along the Anti Infiltration Obstacle
System to a higher ground towards Halka One. At 0500 hours, Lt. Harjinder moved
to engage the terrorists. Using battle drills, he spotted the group ahead of Bus Stop.
Displaying exemplary courage, he accurately fired the Multi Grenade Launcher and
neutralized the first terrorist. In the meantime the second terrorist opened fire.
Undeterred by the terrorist fire, he closed in with the terrorist and neutralized him at
close quarters.

Lt. Harjinder Singh displayed raw courage, fortitude and bravery under
strenuous operational conditions in the elimination of three terrorists.

12. SHAURYA CHAKRA

9421485H HAVILDAR TANKA KUMAR LIMBU, 21% BATTALION THE
PARACHUTE REGIMENT (SPECIAL FORCES)

On 08 June 2015, during the operations conducted by 21 PARASF at Manipur,
Havildar Tanka Kumar Limbu and his buddy stealthily crawled towards the sentry
post. On nearing the post, he observed one sentry with a weapon at the loophole
whilst two other insurgents were seated on the ground. Hav Limbu stealthily
approached the sentry post and eliminated one sentry with his silenced Uzi. Before
the other two insurgents could realize what had happened, Hav Limbu displaying
presence of mind in a daring and courageous move entered the post and shot one
sentry in the head and the other in the chest from point blank range and occupied
the sentry post with his buddy. During the subsequent fire assault on the camp by
the team, Hav Limbu and his buddy brought accurate fire at the other bunkers, and
thus facilitated successful destruction of the insurgent camp, inflicting heavy
casualities to the insurgents.

Havildar Tanka Kumar Limbu displayed the determined, courageous and gallant
action under difficult condition while fighting with insurgents.

13. SHAURYA CHAKRA

IC-70237P MAJOR PRAPHUL KUMAR BHARDWAJ, 12™ BATTALION
THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT (SPECIAL FORCES)

On 13 July 2015, Major Praphul Kumar Bhardwaj launched a special operation
in Awankhu village in Phek district of Nagaland. At about 2345 hours on 15" July on
observing some movement around a hut, Major Praphul along with a buddy pair
closed in to ascertain the movement, thereupon, drawing heavy volume of fire.
Sensing danger to his party, Major Praphul charged onto the hut and neutralized one
terrorist at point blank range. During this action, he sustained gun shot wound in his
right elbow as also his weapon was hit by a bullet, thereby jamming it. Despite
profusely bleeding, with his weapon now non functional, Major Praphul, utterly
disregarding his personal safety, crawled and lobbed two grenades in the hut and
neutralized the second terrorist.

Major Praphul Kumar Bhardwaj displayed exemplary gallantry and acted beyond
the call of duty, while fighting with the terrorists.

14. SHAURYA CHAKRA

4190712P NAIK KHEEM SINGH MEHRA, 21% BATTALION
THE KUMAON REGIMENT

At about 0530 hours on 8" August, 2015 Naik Kheem Singh spotted terrorists
movement in the jungle across Jumagund Nar towards Line of Control at Jammu
and Kashmir. Displaying tenacity, grit and total audacity, Naik Kheem Singh advanced
across the Nala, climbed on opposite spur and engaged the terrorists at close range
killing one terrorist on the spot. Heavy exchange of fire commenced. Taking cover of
boulder and trees, the terrorists maneuvered to flank the main ambush party. Sensing
imminent danger to own comrades, Naik Kheem Singh with utter disregard to
personal safety, broke cover and charged the terrorists killing another terrorist in
close quarter fire fight.

Naik Kheem Singh Mehra displayed raw courage, audacity in face of grave
personal danger and an indomitable fighting spirit in elimination of two dreaded
terrorists.

15. SHAURYA CHAKRA

15614460W NAIK SATISH KUMAR, BRIGADE OF THE GUARDS /
21% BATTALION THE RASHTRIYA RIFLES (POSTHUMOUS)

On 04 December 2015, Naik Satish Kumar was commanding a small team
of search and destroyed operation in Boban Wastar Forest. At 1305 hours, one of
his comrades was suddenly fired upon by terrorists injuring him. Realising this, Nk
Satish Kumar crawled ahead to a fallen tree, engaged and eliminated one terrorist
at close range. He then provided his comrade first aid and ensured his evacuation.
In the meanwhile, the second hidden terrorist opened fire injuring Nk Satish Kumar
on his right leg. Unmindful of his injury, Nk Satish engaged this terrorist and despite
profuse bleeding closed in, lobbed two hand grenade towards the terrorist, who was
still firing, and killed him. However, during his assault towards the terrorist he suffered
another gunshot wound and attained martyrdom.

Naik Satish Kumar displayed extraordinary courage and commitment beyond
call of duty in eliminating two hardcore terrorists before making the supreme sacrifice.