The Hindu : New Delhi News : President presents defence awards

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 09, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

President presents defence awards

NEW DELHI, JULY 8. The President, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, today presented the second instalment of awards for gallantry and distinguished service to 82 defence and security personnel at an emotional investiture ceremony in the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan here.

As in Monday's ceremony, a sizeable number of gallantry awards, amounting to three of the four Kirti Chakras and 15 of the 34 Shaurya Chakras, have been won posthumously.

Besides the gallantry awards, two Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 15 Param Visishta Seva Medals, one bar to the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and 26 AVSMs were presented by Dr Kalam.

It was a poignant moment as widows, mothers and in one case, the father of a serviceman went up to receive the awards from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

All the four Kirti Chakras, awarded for conspicuous acts of gallantry, were all won for anti-terrorist operations in trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir.

Recipients comprising Lance Naik Sohanvir of 7 Jat, Capt Dilip Kumar Jha, Army Ordnance Corps, Sepoy Sarwan Kumar Dhukiya, Rashtriya Rifles (all posthumous) and Major Ajay Kothiyal, Garhwal Rifles, were distinguished by a display of raw courage in face of fire and disregard of personal safety in confronting and ultimately eliminating the terrorists, even when grievously wounded as in the case of the two Other Ranks.

Out of the 34 Shaurya Chakras, eight, including seven posthumous, were won by personnel of the Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) for acts of bravery during road-clearing operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East, in not abandoning their costly equipment even in the face of natural calamities, which ultimately claimed their lives. UNI

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