As part of the 2024 Independence Day celebrations, the Government of India has announced the Gallantry Awards to recognize exceptional bravery and service. A total of 1,037 police personnel and members of the Armed Forces have been honored this year.
Key Highlights of the Awards:
Police Medals for Gallantry:
Out of 213 Police Medals for Gallantry awarded, 208 are given to police personnel. This includes 31 recipients from Jammu and Kashmir, 17 from Uttar Pradesh, and 17 from Maharashtra. Noteworthy among them is Telangana Police Head Constable Chaduvu Yadaiah, who will receive the President’s Medal for Gallantry for his courageous act of apprehending chain snatchers in 2022 despite being injured.
Gallantry Awards for Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces:
Kirti Chakras: Four awards, including three posthumous recognitions. Shaurya Chakras: Eighteen awards, with four given posthumously. Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry): One award. Sena Medals (Gallantry): Sixty-three awards, with two posthumous. Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry): Eleven awards. Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry): Six awards. Additionally, 39 Mention-in-Despatches have been granted, including a posthumous award to Army Dog Kent for his contributions in various military operations such as Operation Rakshak and Operation Snow Leopard.
Detailed Breakdown of Award Recipients:
Kirti Chakra Recipients:
Colonel Manpreet Singh (Posthumous), Sikh Light Infantry/19th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles Major Malla Rama Gopal Naidu, Maratha Light Infantry/56th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles Rifleman Ravi Kumar (Posthumous), Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry/63rd Battalion Rashtriya Rifles Deputy Superintendent of Police Himayun Muzzammil Bhat (Posthumous), Jammu and Kashmir Police
Shaurya Chakra Recipients:
Colonel Pawan Singh, 666 Army Aviation Squadron Major CVS Nikhil, 21st Battalion Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) Major Aashish Dhonchak (Posthumous), Sikh Light Infantry/19th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles Major Tripatpreet Singh, Army Service Corps/34th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles Major Sahil Randhawa, Regiment of Artillery/34th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles Subedar Sanjeev Singh Jasrotia, 5th Battalion Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry):
Lieutenant Colonel Nitin Kumar Singh, Sena Medal, Mahar Regiment/1st Battalion Rashtriya Rifles Sena Medal (Gallantry) Recipients:
Lieutenant Colonel Raman Tyagi, Corps of Engineers/26 Sector Assam Rifles Lieutenant Colonel Ajay Kumar, 3 Corps Intelligence Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Sudhir Singh Kalakoti, 5th Gorkha Rifles/33rd Battalion Rashtriya Rifles For the complete list of recipients and their detailed service records, please refer to the official notification.
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