ITBP recommends gallantry medals for 21 jawans who fought PLA troops

The Jammu & Kashmir Police has bagged the Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry medal that comes after the Ashok Chakra on the eve of 74th Independence Day and also earned a Shaurya Chakra, the third highest in precedence in the category. The J&K Police also topped the list of winners of Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG) by bagging 81 medals.

The CRPF follows the J&K Police with 51 medals, mostly for operations conducted in Jammu & Kashmir.

While the Kirti Chakra was awarded posthumously to Head Constable of Jammu & Kashmir Police Abdul Rashid Kalas, the Shaurya Chakra went to Deputy Inspector General of the J&K Police Amit Kumar.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Friday has recommended gallantry medals to 21 troops who fought against China’s People Liberation Army (PLA) in Eastern Ladakh in May-June, for this years’ Independence Day.

The ITBP has accorded 294 commendation rolls and insignias to the paramilitary personnel for “displaying raw courage and bravery during face-offs and skirmishes in Eastern Ladakh in May-June , 2020,” on the eve of the national festival.

 “The ITBP troops not only effectively used shields to protect themselves but also responded fiercely to PLA advancing troops and brought the situation under control. With the highest order of professional skills, ITBP troops fought shoulder to shoulder and also brought the injured Indian Army troops to the rear,” the ITBP said in a statement highlighting the bravery against the treachery of the PLA troops.

It further said, “Even when the ITBP troops fought the whole night, they received minimum casualties by giving befitting reply to the stone pelters of the PLA. At places, they gave a determined standoff about 17 to 20 hours throughout the intervening nights.”

This graphically explains the medieval ways of PLA of throwing stones at the adversaries from vantage points.

Due to the high altitude training and manoeuver experience of the force in the Himalayan deployments, the ITBP troops kept the PLA troops at bay and due to the all out and befitting response of ITBP jawans at almost all fronts, many areas were safeguarded in the hyper sensitive areas, the ITBP said.

Four personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) also posthumously secured the honours of Shaurya Chakra. The CISF personnel who have been awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously are Late Mahaveer Prasad, Sub Inspector, Late Eranna Nayaka, Head Constable and Late Constables Mahendra Kumar Paswan Satish Prasad. 

Meanwhile, Inspector Mohan Sharma of the Delhi Police has also been awarded a gallantry medal posthumously for his gallant action in the Batla House encounter in the national Capital in which he made the supreme sacrifice. The Union Home Ministry announced a total of 926 medals for various police forces and Central paramilitary forces.

President Ram Nath Kovind, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has approved 84 awards and decorations to the Armed Forces personnel and members of the Paramilitary Forces.

The awards include one Kirti Chakra, nine Shaurya Chakras (four went to the CISF), five Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 60 Sena Medals (Gallantry), four Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and five Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).

The President has also approved 19 Mention-in-Despatches to the Army Personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations which include eight posthumous for “Operation Meghdoot” and “Operation Rakshak”.