Four defence personnel from Punjab honoured for gallantry

Four armed forces personnel from Punjab — Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Tripatpreet Singh, Flight Lieutenant Aman Singh Hans and Sepoy Pradeep Singh — have been decorated for gallantry and sacrifice during counter-insurgency and anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

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Colonel Manpreet Singh was posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, the nation’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, while Sepoy Pradeep Singh was awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously. Both were from 19 Rashtriya Rifles (RR).

They have been decorated for their action during the same anti-terrorist operation conducted near Anantnag.

Colonel Manpreet’s award was received by his wife, Jagmeet Garewal, while Pradeep’s award was received by his wife, Seema Rani.

Major Tripatpreet Singh of 34 RR, who was involved in an operation in which nine hardcore terrorists were eliminated near Shopian, and Flight Lieutenant Aman Singh Hans, a MiG-29 pilot who made a successful emergency landing, were conferred the Shaurya Chakra for displaying exceptional courage under hostile and challenging conditions.

The awards, announced on the occasion of Republic Day-2025, were presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a defence investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on May 22.