New Delhi : , Monday, November 22nd, 2018 – President Ram Nath Kovind conferred on Monday the Gallantry Awards, which included two Kirti Chakras and one Vir Chakra, to commemorate the new year 2020. The Supreme Commander of Armed Forces Kovind presented awards to personnel who displayed conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage.
These awards were presented during Defence Investiture Ceremony, which was held in Phase I at morning and in Phase II at night at Rashtrapati Bhawan.A communique from Rashtrapati Bhavan stated that the award recipients received the honors.
One Kirti Chakra was awarded, while the other 10, the 10 Shauryachakras, were posthumously given.It said that the President awarded the Shaurya Chakras as well as the Kirti Chakras and Vir Chakras.
Moments when the citations of three posthumous awardees are read out were some of the most moving moments of the ceremony.
Sapper Prakash Jdhav, First Battalion of The Corps of Engineers and The Rashtriya Rifles was conducting a search-and-rescue operation in a Jammu & Kashmir village during the wee hours of November 27th.
Terrorists suddenly opened fire in unison on the search party.Jadhav, sensing the danger for his friend, pushed him aside and exposed himself to the terrorists.
The terrorists fired heavy fire at Jadhav, who effectively retaliated, eliminating one terrorist.A second terrorist then opened fire on Jadhav and launched a petrol bomb.
Jadhav notified his team that they should leave the house.Jadhav was shot in the head.
However, Jadhav didn’t let this stop him from firing on the terrorist.The petrol bomb set fire to the house, and Sapper Prakash Jhad could not get out.He later died from his gunshot wounds.
When the announcer stated, “Sapper Prakash Jadhav demonstrated conspicuous gallantry and exemplary courage beyond what was required and made supreme sacrifices in true traditions the Indian Army”, everyone in the Hall was moved to tears.
The same was true when Major Vibhuti Sankar Dhoundiyal was cited by the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers 55 Battalion and the Rashtriya Rifles.He was later awarded the Shaurya Chakra.
Major Dhoundiyal was a remarkable leader and a hero in numerous operations that resulted in the elimination of five terrorists as well as 200kg of explosive material being recovered on February 17, 2019.
The officer was informed by a member of the terrorist group that was in the village and planned to conduct a battalion-level operation.
The officer sustained multiple gunshot wounds when he was attacked by a terrorist in his cowshed.
The officer was severely wounded but maintained his tactical composure.He also retaliated against terrorist fire.The officer, who was completely disregardful of his safety, crawled to the cow shed to set off a fire that would burn the terrorist hideouts.
The terrorists were able to kill the officer, and he succumbed at his operation site.
Posthumously, the Shaurya Chkra was also awarded to Naib Subedar Smbir, 34 Battalion Rashtriya Rifles.
As part of an assault team consisting of 34 Rashtriya Rifles, Sombir (Jat), three terrorists who were hardcore in Jammu & Kashmir were defeated.To cover the best escape routes of terrorists, Sombir and his friend deployed themselves to cordon the target house.
The terrorist attempted to breach the cordon, firing randomly and launching grenades at them.This caused him to sustain severe injuries.
Naib Subedar Smbir, seeing his friend in trouble and not worrying about his safety, took the initiative to engage the terrorist.He killed the terrorist in close quarters.
Later, this terrorist was identified as Category A++ terrorist.However, during his courageous act of courage, he suffered severe gunshot wounds to his neck and chest.He later succumbed.
niv/pgh
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