The Hindu : National : President Kalam decorates 62 armed forces personnel

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Friday, Mar 24, 2006

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National

President Kalam decorates 62 armed forces personnel

Two CRPF officers figured on the military role of honours for the first time

President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam presenting the Shaurya Chakra to wife of rifleman Bhupinder Singh (posthumous) during the Defence Investiture Ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. — Photo: R. V. Moorthy

New Delhi: Two Central Reserve Police Force officers, who exhibited exemplary courage to beat back a terror attack on the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, were among 62 armed forces personnel decorated by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at a glittering Defence Investiture here on Thursday.

For the first time, the two CRPF officers — Vezoto Tinyi, an Assistant Commandant and Dharamvir Singh, a Sub-Inspector, who killed five terrorists who mounted an attack on the disputed structure last year — figured in the military role of honours.

PVSMs presented

The President presented 12 Param Vishist Seva Medals (PVSM), four Kirti Chakras, 27 Ati Vishist Seva Medals and 19 Shaurya Chakras at the investiture at the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

The Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. S. Pattabhiraman, Western Naval Commander Vice Admiral S.S. Byce, Lt. Gen. Madan Gopal, Director General of Military Operations, and Lt. Gen. M.C. Bhandari, Director General NCC, were among the recipients of PVSM.

Of the four recipients of Kirti Chakra, two — Jagat Bahadur of 6/5 Gorkha Rifles and Sub-Inspector Sanjeev of Andaman and Nicobar administrations — received the awards posthumously.

The other two recipients of the award were Wing Commander Balakrishna Pillai, who got the honour for daring rescue work during the tsunami, and Rugha Ram, a guard, who foiled a bank robbery in Hanumangarh in Rajasthan.

The winners of Ati Vishist Seva Medals included Northern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Deepak Kapoor and Director General of Military Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Deepak Summanwar, who won an Uttam Yudh Seva medal during Kargil operations.

Of the Shaurya Chakra winners, seven received them posthumously including Jammu and Kashmir Police Head Constable Mohammed Akbar and Major Deepak Kumar Padda of the Armoured Corps. Both died while carrying out daredevil exploits against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. — PTI

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