President Draupadi Murmu approved 103 gallantry awards for Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on the eve of Independence Day. These include 4 Kirti Chakras (three posthumous); 18 Shaurya Chakras (four posthumous); 1 Army Medal (Gallantry), 63 Army Medals (two posthumously); 11 Navy Medals (Gallantry); and 6 Air Force Medals (Gallantry). The President also approved 39 Mentions-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.
Mention-in-Dispatch is a type of military document, which describes the saga of bravery and valor of a soldier facing the enemy. Colonel Manpreet Singh, who was martyred while leading a military team in an anti-terrorism operation in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir in September last year, has been awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously. Let us tell you that the Kirti Chakra is one of the second largest gallantry awards in peacetime. Apart from two other soldiers – Rifleman Ravi Kumar (posthumously) and Major Malla Ram Gopal Naidu, Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Himayun Muzammil Bhatt has also been awarded the Kirti Chakra.
Click here to see the complete list of gallantry awards
CRPF gets 52 Police Medals for Gallantry
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has received the highest number of 52 Police Gallantry Medals on the occasion of 78th Independence Day. The Union Home Ministry announced the names of the award winners on Wednesday. A senior CRPF official said that out of the total medals, 25 medals have been given for action during operations in Jammu and Kashmir, while 27 medals have been given for anti-Naxal operations in Left Wing Extremism affected states. Sub Inspector Roshan Kumar is also among the awardees.
Jammu and Kashmir Police gets 31 gallantry medals
He has been awarded the gallantry medal posthumously for his heroic action against Maoists in Bihar in February 2019. Assistant Commandant Teja Ram Chaudhary has been awarded two gallantry medals this time for showing courage in different operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. After CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police is at the second place, which has received 31 gallantry medals, while Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra Police have received 17 gallantry medals each.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)