The Hindu : Front Page : Kirti Chakra for Army Major, fireman

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 15, 2006

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Front Page

Kirti Chakra for Army Major, fireman

Special Correspondent

President approves 106 gallantry awards

NEW DELHI: The President has approved the award of Kirti Chakra to Major James Thomas of 10 Sikh Light Infantry and Fireman Vijay Pal Singh of Uttar Pradesh (both posthumous) for "exceptional valour, commendable courage, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice."

As company commander, Major Thomas established an ambush in Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir on January 27.

The Kirti Chakra is the nation's second highest award for gallantry during peacetime.

Besides the Kirti Chakra, the President also approved 106 gallantry awards, including Shaurya Chakras, 81 Sena Medals, six Nao Sena Medals and one Vayu Sena Medals.

Fireman Vijay Pal Singh was part of a team that reached Victoria Park, Meerut, on April 10 this year to douse a huge fire. After rescuing 25 people, his foot got stuck in the wooden floor. By the time he managed to free himself, he received serious burns. He died of his injuries after 13 days of hospitalisation at Safdarjung Hospital here.

Poet-soldier Major Gopi Singh, an aide-de-camp (ADC) to the former President, K.R. Narayanan, is among the Shaurya Chakra awardees.

He was martyred during counter-insurgency operations on November 11 last year, a day after Mr. Narayanan passed away.

He had also served as ADC to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for four months before joining his unit. A Sword of Honour winner on his commissioning, Major Singh's collection of poems came out in 2004.

The youngest officer to receive the Shaurya Chakra is Lt. Amarjeet Singh of Parachute Regiment (Special Forces).

He was awarded for eliminating three terrorists on October 25 last. Major Manish Kukreti and Major Jung Bahadur Singh have been awarded the Sena Medal for the second time.

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