Ashok, Kirti Chakra for two J&K policemen

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

President Ram Nath Kovind has approved 144 gallantry awards to armed forces, police and paramilitary personnel on the eve of Independence Day.

These include one Ashok Chakra, one Kirti Chakra, 15 Shaurya Chakra, four Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 116 Sena Medal (Gallantry), five Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) and two Vayu Sena Medal.

• Also read: 20 ITBP men who faced PLA at Galwan to get gallantry medal
• 1,380 get police medal, most for action in J&K
• CBI’s Manoj Sashidhar who headed Mallya probe gets President medal

Jammu and Kashmir Police Assistant Sub-Inspector Babu Ram has been posthumously conferred upon the Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest peacetime gallantry award. Constable Altaf Hussain Bhat of the J&K Police has been posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, the second highest gallantry award during peacetime.

Shaurya Chakra, third-highest gallantry medal in peacetime, has been awarded to six Army personnel, including posthumously to one, for displaying bravery in anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir last year. The recipients are Major Arun Kumar Pandey, Major Ravi Kumar Chaudhary, Captain Ashutosh Kumar (posthumously), Captain Vikas Khatri, Rifleman Mukesh Kumar and Sepoy Neeraj Ahlawat.

The other Shaurya Chakra awardees are Navy Captain Sachin Reuben Sequeira, IAF pilots Group Captain Perminder Antil and Wing Commander Varun Singh.

From the CRPF, the awardees are Deputy Commandant Chitlesh Kumar, Sub-Inspector Manjinder Singh and Constable Sunil Choudhary. Two Commandos of the Odisha Police, Debasis Sethy and Sudhir Kumar Tudu, are also on the Shaurya Chakra list. Shahbaz Ahmad, Special Police Officer of the J&K Police, is on the list too.

The President has also approved 28 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations, which include three posthumously for ‘Operation Rakshak’.

1,380 get police medal

The Centre has announced 1,380 medals for police personnel, among them 628 for gallantry and 750 for distinguished services.