9 Kirti Chakras, 13 posthumous medals among 78 gallantry awards approved by President Droupadi Murmu

17 Delhi Police personnel on the occasion of Independence Day have been named for service medals by President Droupadi Murmu.

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday approved 78 gallantry awards, including 13 posthumous medals, to personnel from the armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces, the defence ministry said.

The defence ministry revealed that the awards will be bestowed upon personnel from the armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces. (Representational/ANI)

Among the gallantry medals cleared by the President on the eve of the 80th Independence Day include nine Kirti Chakras, one bar to Shaurya Chakra, 19 Shaurya Chakras, five bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 36 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), and five Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). Track Independence Day celebrations live updates here

These include seven personnel posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, the country’s second-highest peace-time gallantry award. One Shaurya Chakra and five Sena Medals (gallantry) will be awarded posthumously.

Recipients of gallantry awards

Francis, the assault team commander of a Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), last year established an intelligence network to systematically dismantle anti-national elements fueling violence and division in Manipur. He was awarded the Kirti Chakra for “displaying resolute leadership, superior tactical acumen, and raw courage under fire in eliminating two heavily armed insurgents.”

Rathee was entrusted with the mission of neutralising terrorist groups in the Kishtwar area of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Exhibiting tactical brilliance under intense hostile fire, the officer manoeuvred stealthily to an advantageous position, identified a hiding terrorist and with decisive action, lobbed incendiary grenades eliminating one terrorist and setting fire to the hideout thereby trapping and injuring the other two terrorists. After the cessation of fire, he closed in to take confirmatory shots, neutralising a total of three foreign terrorists,” his citation said.

Deli Police personnel recognised

Meanwhile, 17 Delhi Police personnel on the occasion of Independence Day have been named for service medals, which include two President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and 15 Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM), according to the officials.

Among the PSM awardees is Additional Commissioner of Police Dinesh Kumar Gupta, a 2010-batch IPS officer, who is currently posted as Additional CP (Traffic), where he oversees traffic management and arrangements for major public events, religious congregations, parliamentary sessions and national ceremonies. He had earlier received the MSM in 2018. Among the MSM recipients are Joint Commissioner of Police Surender Kumar, a 2007-batch IPS officer, and Joint Commissioner Nupur Prasad, also of the 2007 batch.

Last Independence Day, India acknowledged the heroism of its soldiers who took part in Operation Sindoor and played a pivotal role in hitting terror and military targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with Murmu approving numerous wartime honours for them.