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Ashok Chakra for Major Raghu Raman

Special Correspondent

He laid down his life fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir

Major Raman

NEW DELHI: Major Dinesh Raghu Raman has been posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, the country’s highest award for gallantry.

President Pratibha Patil will confer the award at the Republic Day celebrations on Saturday. Three others — Capt. R. Harshan of 2 Parachute Regiment, Special Forces; Naib Subedar Chunni Lal, VrC, SM of 8 J&K Light Infantry; and Col. Vasanth Venugopal of 9 Maratha Light Infantry (all posthumous), who were awarded the Ashok Chakra on the eve of Independence Day last year — will also be honoured.

Born in 1978, Major Raman did his schooling in the Kendriya Vidyalaya, INA Colony, New Delhi, and joined the National Defence Academy in 1996. After passing out from the NDA, he was commissioned into 19 battalion of the Jat Regiment. He was awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card in Drass during the Kargil conflict.

Posted to 34 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, he conducted a successful operation “OP Narawar” in June last year, leading to the elimination of three terrorists. On October 2, Major Raman deployed his company in a village in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, where an encounter with terrorists had begun. While closing in on suspected houses, Major Raman heard shouts of a fellow officer (Major K.P. Vinay, awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously) who had been seriously injured.

He crawled towards the injured officer under heavy fire and shifted him and two others to safety. He then took on two terrorists who had caused heavy casualties to the troops and shot both of them dead. The other terrorists fired at Major Raman from another house, causing him injuries that proved fatal.

“Major Raman displayed the most conspicuous bravery, besides camaraderie and leadership of the highest order and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation,” said an Army news release.

Major K.P. Vinay

In all, the President has approved awards of 425 gallantry and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others.

Besides the Ashok Chakra, these include four Kirti Chakras, 22 Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medals, 107 Sena Medals, two Nao Sena Medals, three Vayu Sena Medals, 30 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, three Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 52 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, one Yudh Seva Medal, three Bar to Vishisht Seva Medals, 127 Vishisht Seva Medals, four Bar to Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), 38 Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), 10 Nao Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty) and 16 Vayu Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty). One Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry), two Takrakshak Medals (Meritorious Service) and 28 Mention-In-Despatches have also been announced.

Kirti Chakra

Among the Kirti Chakra awardees, two have been given posthumously to Major Kumandur Prabhakar Vinay of 53 Medium Regiment (Artillery) and Sepoy Suresh of 16 Jat Regiment.

Major Vinay from Hyderabad was an alumnus of the National Defence Academy. He killed two terrorists in Baramulla district on October 2 last year before succumbing to his injuries. He is survived by his father K.R. Prabhakar.

Major Shatrujeet Kotwal

Sepoy Suresh of 16 Jat Regiment was martyred in an action with militants in Kupwara district of J&K on October 6 last year. He killed three militants even after being injured in a firefight with them.

Of the two surviving Kirti Chakra winners, Major Shatrujeet Kotwal, while serving with 34 Rashtriya Rifles, also killed three terrorists in a daredevil action in Budgam district (J&K) in June last year. An alumnus of the NDA, he was commissioned in 1999. He belongs to Udhampur (J&K).

The second surviving awardee, Major Punia led the assault against militants in Manipur who were entrenched in a camp. He killed two militants and along with his colleague killed another and injured one more.

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