Ashok Chakra for officer who killed 4 terrorists

Lieutenant Navdeep Singh, who killed four terrorists during an operation in Jammu and Kashmir last year, will be posthumously awarded the country's highest peacetime gallantry award, Ashok Chakra, by President Pratibha Patil on Republic Day.

Lieutenant Navdeep Singh, who killed four terrorists during an operation in Jammu and Kashmir last year, will be posthumously awarded the country's highest peacetime gallantry award, Ashok Chakra, by President Pratibha Patil on Republic Day.

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The 25-year-old, who led a commando unit of 15 Maratha Light Infantry, laid an ambush after receiving a tip-off on an infiltration attempt by terrorists on August 20, 2011 in Kashmir's Gurez sector.

The unit led by Lt Singh exchanged an intense firing with the terrorists. Having killed three terrorists at close range, Singh saw a fourth one approaching. Disregarding his safety, the officer swiftly changed his firing position to engage the terrorist.

Despite suffering a gunshot wound, Singh managed to eliminate the terrorist and rescue an injured soldier. He succumbed to his injury later.

Navdeep's father, honorary Captain Joginder Singh, who will receive the award from the President, said, "Our loss is irreparable. But we are proud that Navdeep died for the country and he is being awarded the Ashok Chakra."

Ravindra Kumar Singh of the CRPF, who led his men through over 200 explosions in Chhattisgarh to foil a Naxal attack in April 2011, is the only central police officer to be awarded the Shaurya Chakra. Singh lost his leg in the encounter.

Suresh Kumar, who was killed while trying to catch car thieves in Haryana and district police chiefs, Abhishek Pathak and Ankit Garg, who are serving in the heart of the red corridor in Chhattisgarh, are among the 630 police officers named for the President's police medals.