SRINAGAR: Three army officers and a Jammu and Kashmir police constable, who had participated in anti-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir from 2020 to 2023, resulting in the elimination of nearly 64 hardcore terrorists, have been awarded Shaurya Chakras 2023 for their bravery.
President Droupadi Murmu has approved 76 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on the eve of Independence Day.
These include four Kirti Chakras, all posthumous, 11 Shaurya Chakras, including five posthumous, two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 52 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and four Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
Among these Shaurya Chakra awardees, three army officers exhibited inspiring leadership and exceptional courage and bravery, eliminating 64 hardcore terrorists, mostly operating in South Kashmir.
A JKP constable, killed by terrorists last year, was also awarded Shaurya Chakra for his bravery.
As per citation, Major Ravinder Singh Rawat of The Armoured Corps/ 44th Battalion the Rashtriya Rifles has been awarded Shaurya Chakra for exhibiting inspiring leadership during the conduct of 11 successful operations, resulting in the elimination of 28 hardcore terrorists since March 2020 in Shopian.
Major Vijay Verma of The Rajput Regiment/44th Battalion, The Rashtriya Rifles, has been Shaurya Chakra for exhibiting inspiring leadership and conduct of 10 successful operations, eliminating 22 hardcore terrorists. He has been operating in Shopian since October 2021.
Another officer, namely Major Sachin Negi of The Grenadiers/ 55th Battalion The Rashtriya Rifles, has been awarded Shaurya Chakra.
As per citation, since November 2020, Major Sachin Negi has exhibited exceptional professionalism and bravery in six successful operations, eliminating 14 terrorists in the Pulwama sector.
A police constable and encounter specialist Saifullah Qadri of Anchar locality of Soura, Srinagar, was also awarded Shaurya Chakra (Now Posthumous) for his courage.
On May 24 2022, terrorists opened fire on Saifullah Qadri, a police official, in the Soura area of Srinagar. Hours after the firing, he succumbed to his injuries. His 9-year-old daughter, who was with him, also received bullet injuries.
She was taken to JVC Hospital, Bemina. As per sources, Qadri was taking his daughter to tuition classes at the time of the attack. Later that day, the late police officer’s wreath-laying ceremony took place.
Moreover, Major Rajendra Prasad Jat of The Dogra Regiment/ 62nd Battalion The Rashtriya Rifles has been awarded Shaurya Chakra for exhibiting unparalleled valor and exceptional leadership in ‘Operation Watrehal’ leading to the elimination of three hardcore terrorists. Naik Bhim Singh of The Rajputana Rifles/ 9th battalion the Rashtriya Rifles, has been awarded Shaurya Chakra in 2023.
As per the citation, Naik Bhim Singh has served as Combat Team Commander. On 26 September 2022, on receiving intelligence about the presence of a terrorist group in a village in south Kashmir, he led the initial cordon and search operations team.
Naik Bhim Singh positioned himself in a tactically critical location while civilians were being evacuated from the operation area; the terrorist opened indiscriminate fire and lobbed grenades toward civilians and injured an officer. Displaying exceptional situational awareness, Naik Bhim pinned down the terrorist with accurate fire and extricated the injured officer to safety. Rifleman Kulbushan Manta of the Jammu And Kashmir Rifles/ 52nd battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles awarded Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous) for capturing a terrorist and saving his own troops during Operation Rakshak (Jammu and Kashmir)—(KNO)
