Republic Day Medals to Armed forces

SpArK

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Shaurya Chakra Recipients



Colonel Neeraj Sood, Commanding Officer, 18 Rashtriya Rifles devised and effected a judicious surveillance and ambush plan on 13 June, 2010, which subsequently resulted in contact with terrorists at 2105 hours on 22 June, 2010 in the area of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir. Astutely sensing that terrorist movement would evade the cordon, the Commanding Officer swiftly deployed his troops to tactically advantageous positions. Boldly leading from the front, the officer formed the focal point of the cordon re-established contact at 2212 hours on 22 June, 2010. In the ensuing gunfight, Colonel Sood personally targeted and injured one terrorist. Identifying the key role of Colonel Neeraj Sood, the terrorists concentrated their fire on him. In the fierce gun battle that ensued, the officer sustained a fatal bullet injury.






On 13 January, 2010 Havildar Dayal Singh, as part of the Battalion Intelligence Team, was tasked to cordon a suspected house from the rear. At 2330 hours, while the parties were still getting into position, three terrorists rushed out of the rear door firing indiscriminately. Havildar Dayal Singh immediately engaged them and blocked their escape route forcing them to take cover in the vicinity. A firefight ensued with heavy automatic fire from the terrorists desperate to escape. However, the potential risk to civilians in the hut warranted a measured response. At grave risk to himself and displaying exemplary restraint, Havildar Dayal Singh fired back very selectively, preventing any casualties or collateral damage. The sensible response from him ensured the safe evacuation of the trapped civilians while keeping the terrorists pinned down. The NCO, with utter disregard for his own safety, dashed forward and shot dead one terrorist at close quarters. In the process he was struck by a bullet in the left eye. Bleeding profusely, he continued to engage the other two till he lost consciousness and later succumbed to his injury.



On the night of 06/07 May, 2010 surveillance cum multiple ambushes were launched based on inputs about the presence of terrorists in a general area in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. Lance Naik Anoop Kumar Sharma was the scout of one such party. On 07 May, 2010 around 0500 hours Sharma observed suspicious movement. Upon being challenged, the terrorists opened indiscriminate fire. Realizing the safety of his comrades to be at stake, Sharma, with utter disregard to personal safety, retaliated with effective fire and dashed towards the terrorists. In spite of being grievously injured in the process with his effective and accurate fire the individual eliminated two terrorists before falling unconscious. Lance Naik Anoop Kumar Sharma displayed indomitable determination and exceptional bravery and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.




On 02 April, 2010 during a search and destroy operation in the forests of Rajouri District in Jammu and Kashmir, Sepoy Shailesh Kumar Singh had taken position fifty meters away from the location of terrorists and was bringing down effective Multiple Grenade Launcher fire, pinning them down. After a prolonged fire fight two terrorists attempted to break the cordon by firing indiscriminately and charging at the troops. Realizing the danger to his own troops as they were under inadequate cover, Sepoy Shailesh Kumar Singh with utter disregard to his own safety swiftly moved forward, firing the MGL accurately, killing two terrorists and saved the lives of his fellow soldiers. In the firefight, Sepoy Shailesh Kumar Singh sustained bullet injuries and made the supreme sacrifice.






On 11 May, 2010 based on information supplied by a unit source about the presence of terrorists in a village in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, the village was cordoned off and close cordon laid on target house. At approximately 1355 hours the terrorists tried to break the cordon and troops came under indiscriminate fire of terrorists from close range. Realizing the possibility of escape by the terrorists escaping and the keeping in mind the safety of his comrades, Sepoy Sangat Singh with utter disregard for his personal safety, crawled through indiscriminate fire and further closed in to the nala next to the target house. Though critically injured, he took up a suitable position, brought down effective fire from pointblank range and lobbed a grenade, thereby eliminating two hardcore terrorists single-handedly till he fell down unconscious. Sepoy Sangat Singh's presence of mind ensured there was no collateral damage or loss of property.
 

SpArK

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On 17 February, 2010, inputs were received from sources regarding the movement of underground elements through the corridor in Ukhrul district of Manipur. Major Rahul Gurung planned multiple ambushes in the areas of the riverbed and the valley. At 2250 hours, the infiltrating party of terrorists was intercepted by Major Gurung's ambush party and in the firefight Major Gurung shot dead one terrorist. Another terrorist took cover behind a tree and was firing on the ambush party. Major Gurung sensing the urgency of situation, displaying undaunted bravery and inspirational courage, crawled towards the hiding terrorist and without regard for his personal safety, shot the terrorist from point blank range. The terrorists broke contact but Major Rahul Gurung and his party chased the group and subsequently three more terrorists were gunned down.



On 04 March, 2010, terrorists were hiding in a room which could not be cleared by any means other than close quarter intervention due to the close proximity of a large Jamia Masjid mosque in Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir. At 0815 hours Captain Deepak Sharmaclosed in with his buddy and entered the house through a small window by lobbing hand grenades. At point blank range he fired and killed one terrorist in the first room. Then he crawled to the next room under heavy volume of fire from the terrorists and lobbed another grenade. On spotting two terrorists under a staircase, he charged at them with steely grit and utter disregard for his own safety, killing them on the spot. During the firefight he sustained a bullet injury on his neck to which he later succumbed.





Lieutenant Vikas Sharma at 1630 hours on 11 August, 2010 noticed movement on a ridge in Bandipore forest in Jammu and Kashmir. He divided his party and approached the top from two sides. The presence of the terrorists was confirmed at a distance of 300 meters. He immediately engaged them with snipers, shooting one terrorist. Two terrorists took cover and returned fire. Lieutenant Vikas Sharma directed his sniper to engage the second terrorist from a flank while he and his buddy encircled him from another side. He closed up to 20 meters to take accurate shots and killed him. The third terrorist was entrenched between two rocks and was evading fire. Lieutenant Vikas Sharma redeployed his LMG (Light Machine Gun) to cover his movement and closed on him, making excellent use of the ground. His move was detected by the terrorist who fired at him. Lieutenant Vikas Sharma was undaunted and fearlessly kept closing on him and shot him dead at a 15 meters.





On 27 June, 2010, Lieutenant Vikrant Ajit Deshmukh was part of a search party that set out on a specific search of the general area of a village in Kupwara District of Jammu & Kashmir on receipt of intelligence indicating the presence of a group of terrorists. While following a trail hit upon during the search, the party was fired upon by terrorists at 1840 hours. In the ensuing firefight, Lieutenant Vikrant Ajit Deshmukh sustained a bullet injury on his abdomen, in spite of which, he opened fire at close range and killed two terrorists who were trying to escape. The terrorists also hurled grenades at his team, after which he fell down the steep spurs of a ridge, without his weapon, along with four troopers and got separated from the rest during the fall. He silently held on to his senses alone for three and a half hours till a search party reached him. The officer negotiated 1.5 kilometer of steep spurs and nalas on foot with a smiling face during his extrication.




On 29 August, 2010, a scout party was fired upon during the search of a village in Baramullah district of Jammu and Kashmir. Naik Rajinder Singh, along with other scouts, returned effective fire, pinning down terrorists and cutting off their escape route. During the firefight, he eliminated one terrorist who was trying to escape. Intermittent firing continued and terrorist hiding inside cave kept lobbing grenades to prevent the troopers from closing in. As it was getting dark, Naik Rajinder Singh volunteered to crawl in close to the cave and engage the terrorists hiding inside. He crawled towards the cave under intense fire and fired one complete magazine from his AK-47 rifle. The terrorists lobbed grenades towards him from inside the cave. Displaying astute presence of mind and sharp reflexes, he used a rock to protect himself from the grenade splinters. He then crawled to the mouth of cave and brought effective fire on the terrorists, eliminating three of them.



Saluting the brave who gave their life defending ours.
 

SpArK

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IAF pilots to receive gallantry awards for valor




Flight Lieutenant Manish Arora, Shaurya Chakra, Indian Air Force.
Safe recovery of a fighter jet despite having sustained critical injuries on the face after a canopy burst while cruising at near supersonic speed at an altitude of 10.5 kilometers, has earned Flight Lieutenant Manish Arora, a Shaurya Chakra, for his act of conspicuous courage, writes Indian Air Force (IAF) Public Relations Officer, Wing Commander TK Singha. The incident happened on February 4, 2010 in a fighter base in the eastern sector.
According to Singha, Flight Lieutenant Arora bore excruciating pain in the right ear even as his mask was flooded with blood. Wind blast severely restricted his mobility and frontal cockpit visibility affected by blood stains made his recovery difficult. Despite feeling faint and weak, Flight Lieutenant Arora displayed grit, fortitude and professionalism and landed the aircraft flawlessly under extremely challenging conditions.

For yet another safe recovery of a fighter jet having also suffered a canopy burst, Squadron Leader Vikas Bhushan has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VM) (Gallantry). The incident happened on March 8, 2010 in the western sector. Canopy burst is amongst the gravest emergencies encountered in any fighter aircraft.

While tackling the emergency, Squadron Leader Bhushan suffered extreme pain in the ears due to the rapid decompression on canopy burst. By taking timely and correct actions, in spite of the physical injury and discomfort, Squadron Leader Bhushan displayed exceptional professionalism in ensuring the safe recovery of his aircraft. This could otherwise have resulted in the loss of an extremely vital and expensive national asset.

Two other VM (G) have been awarded to Wing Commander Sushil Chaturvedi and Wing Commander Manjit Singh Sidhu, both helicopter pilots.



Wing Commander Sushil Chaturvedi, Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), Indian Air Force.

On May 8, 2010, Wing Commander Chaturvedi saved the life of a Jammu and Kashmir policeman, who was evacuated out of the deep jungles of Lar in the Mahore-Gulabgarh area at 9,500 ft density altitude. Considering the degree of difficulty of landing at an unprepared area in dusk period and evacuating from an inhospitable terrain infected with anti-national elements, Wing Commander Chaturvedi displayed exceptional courage and professional acumen in the face of challenging odds to save valuable lives.


Ahead of the IAF's fire power display at Pokharan on February 27, 2010, Wing Commander Sidhu was a formation member of the IAF's helicopter display team – Sarang, practicing their aerial routine. Towards the end of their routine, Wing Commander Sidhu encountered loss of effectiveness of collective, the control that offers power to the helicopter to remain airborne. The emergency is potentially catastrophic and the recovery actions have not been specified even by the manufacturer. With exceptional flying skill, he controlled the helicopter with help of rudder touched down in a flat area in an otherwise undulating terrain with minimum damage to the helicopter.

59 other IAF personnel will also be honored for distinguished service and devotion to duty, including six Air Marshals, who will receive the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for distinguished service of an exceptional order and 12 other officers including two Air Marshals, five Air Vice Marshals and five Air Commodores, who will receive the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for distinguished service of a very high order.

The Vayu Sena Medal (VM) for devotion to duty have been awarded to 14 officers whereas the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) recipients include 25 officers and two Personnel Below Officer Rank for distinguished service of a high order.

The PVSM recipients include Air Marshal Sumit Mukerjee, AOC-in-C, Southern Air Command, Air Marshal Paramjit Singh Bhangu, former AOC-in-C, South Western Air Command who retired on December 31, 2010, Air Marshal Gurdip Singh Kochar, AOC-in-C, Central Air Command, Air Marshal Kishan Kumar Nohwar, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal Nirdosh Vatsayan Tyagi, Deputy Chief of Air Staff and Air Marshal Puthiyaveettil Madhusoodanan, former Director General Medical Services (Air).
 

Ray

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It gives me hope and pride that with such dedicated and brave young boys, India, notwithstanding the turmoil, will survive and more!
 

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