Gallantry awards approved by the President include one Ashok Chakra, 14 Shaurya Chakras, 63 Sena Medals, two Nao Sena Medals and two Vayu Sena Medals.
A fearless soldier who loved to keep snakes his pet was awarded the nation's highest peace time gallantry award 'The Ashok Chakra' posthumously for killing three heavily armed militants along the Line of Control (LoC) at an altitude of 12,500 feet in Naugam sector in north Kashmir in May this year.
Havildar Hangpan Dada of 4th Battalion of the Assam Regiment was posted with 35 Rashtriya Riffles in counter terrorism and counter infiltration duties in north Kashmir.
"On May 26 late Havildar Hangpan Dada along with his section was tasked to chase and trap fleeing terrorists. Displaying ingenuity and understanding of ground, the ex-commando moved with incredible speed in inhospitable snow bound high altitude terrain. This move blocked the escape route of the terrorists and surprised them," said Colonel SD Goswami, defence spokesman at Northern Command.
Col Goswami said he displayed exemplary courage and presence of mind and killed two terrorists close quarters. In the exchange of fire, he was grievously injured. "Undeterred, the NCO went after the remaining terrorists. In the process, he came face to face with the third terrorist whom he killed in hand to hand combat before making the supreme sacrifice. Havildar His action also led to elimination of the fourth," he said.
Born in village Borduria, district Tirap, Arunachal Pradesh on October 2, 1979, Dada, as he was fondly called, was recruited to the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment on October 28 1997. Six years later, on January 24 2008 he was side stepped to the 4th Battalion of the Assam Regiment where he served till the last.
"Behind his trademark smile was a fearless man who liked to keep snakes as his pet. He didn't stop playing with them even after he had to be evacuated in a helicopter after being bitten not once but twice," said Col Goswami.
Besides, Havildar Hangpan Dada, eight soldiers of northern Command were awarded with Shaurya Chakra of which five have been awarded posthumously. Shaurya Chakra is the third highest gallantry award and is awarded to personnel for acts of valour, and self sacrifice in peacetime.
Three martyrs who led the operation in Pampore to clear the EDI building with minimum collateral damage were awarded Shaurya Chakra. Late Lance Naik Om Prakash, Late Capt Pawan Kumar and Late Capt Tushar Mahajan were awarded Shaurya Chakra for their exemplary bravery during Pampore operation.
Pathankot bravehearts Lt Col Niranjan and Corporal Gurusevak Singh are among the 82 defence and paramilitary personnel for whom President Pranab Mukherjee approved gallantry awards.
Navy sailor Veer Singh, who retrieved under difficult circumstances two bodies from the Dornier aircraft of the force that had crashed last year off Goa, has also been chosen for the gallantry award Nao Sena Medal along with Lt Commander Vikash Kumar Narwal.
Squadron Leader Abhishek Singh Tanwar and Squadron Leader Bhavesh Kumar Dubey have been selected for Vayu Sena Medal.
(With inputs from agency)
ITBP take top honours
The top honours of President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG) have been given to three Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel for thwarting terrorist attacks at Indian Consulates at Mazar-e-Sharif and Jalalabad in Afghanistan early this year. The other PPMG awardees include CRPF Inspector Gulam Nabi Bhat, sub inspector of Telangana police late Dudekula Siddaiah and constable late Chougoni Nagaraju and an official of the Intelligence Bureau Chandra Sen Singh for undertaking daring operations. A group of Fidayeens tried to breach the boundary wall and main gate by resorting to heavy Gun fire and Grenade lobbing, but HC Virender Singh, CT Sunil Bisht, CT Sandip Ghosh, CT Harinandan Gururani and CT Sastish Kumar under direct command of Post commander Insp Subhash Chandra displayed conspicuous act of valour in the face of dreaded terrorist attack. They shifted their positions and with precise shooting skills killed and injured one each amongst four hardcore fidayeens.
31 officials of CBI awarded
The officers involved in the probe of Agusta Helicopter scam besides those securing successful prosecution of former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala are among 31 CBI officers who have been awarded President's Police Medal and Police Medal on Independence Day. Only two IPS officers figure in the list of awards announced on Sunday. Ashwani Kumar Chand, an IPS officer of 2000 batch from Sikkim cadre, who is part of Special Investigation Team of CBI probing cases like Agusta Westland Helicopter scam and Vijay Mallya cheating cases has been awarded Police Medal for Meritorious Service. Another IPS officer Navjyoti Gogoi, also a 2000 batch IPS officer from Rajasthan cadre who is posted as DIG, Guwahati in CBI, has been given Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
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