Col Santosh Babu awarded Mahavir Chakra posthumously

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, November 23

Colonel B Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment who led his troops against a Chinese attack in Eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley in June last year, was on Tuesday posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind for displaying exemplary courage during the hand-to-hand combat.

Babu’s wife B Santoshi and mother Manjula received the award at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the top military brass of the country.

Mahavir Chakra is the second highest wartime gallantry award after the Param Vir Chakra.

Four other soldiers, Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren, Havildar (Gunner) K Palani, Naik Deepak Singh and Sepoy Gurtej Singh, who also laid down their lives valiantly fighting the Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley clash on June 15 last year, have been honoured with the Vir Chakra award posthumously.

Havildar Tejinder Singh of the 3 Medium Regiment, who was part of the Indian Army team at Galwan Valley clash and survived the combat, has also been conferred with the Vir Chakra award.

Vir Chakra is the third highest wartime gallantry award.

The bravehearts

• Naib Subedar N Soren
• Havildar (Gunner) K Palani
• Naik Deepak Singh
• Sepoy Gurtej Singh
• Havildar Tejinder Singh