New Delhi, January 25
Six security personnel, including a Colonel and a Major of the Indian Army and a jawan of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), have been awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously at this year’s Republic Day gallantry awards for showing exemplary courage during duty.
Five of the six awarded with the Kirti Chakra lost their lives fighting terrorists in the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir while the CISF jawan lost his life fighting Naxalites in Chhattisgarh.
Those who have been awarded are Col Gurbir Singh Sarna, Major Manish Hiraji Pitambare, Captain Vishal Bhandral, Lieutenant Natarajan Parthiban, Havildar Manjit Singh and Sub-Inspector DNP Singh from the CISF.
Col Gurbir Singh Sarna was the Commanding Officer of a Rashtriya Rifles unit and led from the front during operation Chak Behrampura on December 23 last, leading to the elimination of three hardcore terrorists in the Patan district in Jammu and Kashmir.
Based on hard intelligence regarding presence of four terrorists in a village, Colonel Sarna reached the spot along with his team of officers and cordoned off the targeted house.
While the search was on, the presence of terrorists in a hideout was first sighted by Colonel Sarna himself, who personally broke open the hideout and challenged the terrorists along with another soldier.
The fire-fight between the officer and the terrorist started at a very close range and resulted in killing of one terrorist and
injuring another by the officer on the spot. However, in the process, Col Sarna himself received multiple bullet injuries. Though bleeding profusely, he shouted his men to leave him and passed instructions to continue the operation which led to the elimination of other terrorists and later succumbed to his injuries.Major Manish Hiraji Pitambare of 3 Parachute regiment specialised in room intervention and hostage rescue operations. He participated in four Army operations in J&K and led high-risk mission not only to neutralise seven terrorists, but also rescued three civilians.
Captain Vishal Bhhandral of Garhwal Rifles and 14 Rashtriya Rifles launched a search operation to track down terrorists. During search, two terrorists charged out from a house firing indiscriminately on the search party. Showing utter disregard to his personal safety, and displaying courage , he closed in with them, opened fire and shot dead one terrorist. Second terrorist jumped into a grove and started firing back. Seeing that the terrorists are likely to escape, Capt Bhandral displayed unparalleled courage, charged towards him and lobbed a grenade and was injured in the encounter, later losing his life.
Lieutenant Natarajan Parthiban was the Post Commander in Gurej Sector and received information that few heavily armed terrorists, in an attempt to cross the Line of Control were hiding in a nearby forest. He, along with his team, rushed to the site and cordoned off the suspected area.
He tasked his team to provide covering fire, and himself closed on to the terrorists. Suddenly, two terrorists sprung up from behind the boulders and fired on him indiscriminately causing him severe bullet injuries.
Despite being wounded, he unmindful of his personal safety and agony, charged on them and killed the two terrorists single-handedly in close combat before succumbing to his injuries.
Later on, the remaining two terrorists were eliminated by the team.
Havildar Manjit Singh was commander of an ambush party at a Grid point in northern sector and observed the movement of terrorists near the Line of Control. He waited patiently for the infiltrating terrorists to come into killing ground and then opened fire.
Terrorists retaliated and tried to escape. Havildar Manjit Singh had laid improvised obstacle to trap the terrorists. He immediately asked for illumination and engaged the fleeing terrorists. He personally killed five terrorists.
Sub-Inspector Dhirendra Pratap Singh was posted at a unit of the National Mineral Development Cooperation Ltd. in iron ore field of Baladila, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, when a group of 500 Naxalites attacked the explosive store barrack shouting slogans and demanding fire arms.
He took stock of the situation and started firing at them. The Naxalites fired heavily with grenades and petrol bombs, causing serious injuries to many personnel, including S.I. Singh. Undeterred by the barrage of fire, the CISF personnel under the leadership of S.I Singh did not lose courage and prevented the Naxalites to enter the barracks.
