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New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) The Central government has issued a gazette notification of Gallantry Award Citations for defense personnel of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force for acts of extraordinary courage during various operations including the recently concluded Operation Sindoor.
Earlier, President Draupadi Murmu approved 127 gallantry awards and 40 distinguished service awards for armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel.
These are: 04 Kirti Chakras; 15 Vir Chakras; 16 Shaurya Chakras; 02 Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry); 58 Army Medals (Gallantry); 06 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry); 26 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry); 07 Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals; 09 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 24 Yudh Seva Medals.
The President has also approved 290 Mention-in-Despatches, which include 115 personnel from the Indian Army, 5 from the Indian Navy, 167 from the Indian Air Force and 3 from the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB).
Among the recipients, Colonel Koshank Lamba (IC-69077N) of 302 Medium Regiment has been awarded the Vir Chakra for conducting the first short-notice air mobilization of a special equipment battery.
His guidance facilitated timely involvement of inter-command personnel under complete confidentiality demonstrating the martial ethos of the Indian Army.
1988 Lieutenant Colonel Sushil Bisht (IC-72358P) of (Independent) Medium Battery has also been awarded the Vir Chakra.
As Officer Commanding on an operation, he led his unit with remarkable courage and operational excellence, resulting in the destruction of terrorist camps.
From the Indian Air Force, Group Captain Ranjit Singh Sidhu, a fighter pilot, has been awarded the Vir Chakra for commanding his squadron on effective strike missions against pre-selected targets in which all operational tasks were accomplished.
Group Captain Animesh Patni, flying a strategic surface-to-air missile (SAM) squadron from a forward airbase, proved to be a great leader during a mission.
His precise direction caused heavy losses to the enemy without causing any loss to its resources and he was awarded the Vir Chakra.
Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik, as Deputy Mission Commander on a high-risk midnight mission, entered heavily defended enemy airspace to neutralize fortified targets.
His missions included low-level tactical flying and precision weapons delivery under severe threat, for which he was awarded the Vir Chakra.
Squadron Leader Siddhant Singh has been awarded the Vir Chakra for his contribution to the three-aircraft formation tasked with stand-off precision attack.
This was a mission that required excellent flying capabilities and coordination in an air defense area saturated with joint air defense systems.
The Gazette Notification emphasizes the initiative, leadership and operational efficiency of these officers, indicating their dedication to the national security and operational preparedness of the country’s armed forces.
–IANS
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