Twelve security forces personnel from the Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were awarded Shaurya Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind on the eve of Republic Day on Tuesday. Olympic javelin gold medal winner in the Tokyo Games Neeraj Chopra was awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM). He is a Subedar in the Rajputana Rifles.
This gallantry medal is the third-highest during peacetime. Five of the six awardees of the Army this year were conferred the medal posthumously. Most of them sacrificed their lives fighting militants in Jammu & Kashmir. Similarly, four of the six CRPF personnel were also awarded the medal posthumously.
Giving details here on Wednesday, Defence Ministry officials said the President has approved awards of 384 Gallantry and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others on the eve of 73rd Republic Day celebrations.
These include 12 Shaurya Chakras, 29 Param Vishisht Seva Medals(PVSM), 04 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 53 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals(AVSM), 13 Yudh Seva Medals, 03 Bar to Vishisht Seva Medals, 122 Vishisht Seva Medals(VSM), 03 Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 81 Sena Medals (Gallantry), 02 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry), 40 Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), 08 Nao Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), and 14 Vayu Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty).
The Shaurya Chakra awardees are Naib Subedar Sreejith M(posthumous), Havildar Anil Kumar Tomar(posthumous), Havildar Kashiray Bammanalli(posthumous), Havildar Pinku Kumar(posthumous), Sepoy M Jaswanth Kumar Reddy(posthumous), and Rifleman Rakesh Sharma.
The CRPF Shaurya Chakra awardees include Commandant Dilip Malik, Assistant Commandant Anirudh Pratap Singh, Head Constable Ajeet Singh(posthumous), Constable Vikas Kumar(posthumous), Constable Puranand (posthumous)and Head Constable Kuldeep Kumar Urawan(posthumous).