Galwan martyrs honoured: Colonel Santosh Babu awarded Maha Vir Chakra posthumously, others decorated with Vir Chakras
Colonel Santosh Babu, who laid down his life while resisting a vicious attack on his observation post by Chinese Army soldiers in the Galwan valley of Ladakh, was awarded Maha Vir Chakra (posthumously) by President Ram Nath Kovind at a defence investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. His mother and wife received the award from President.
Besides Colonel Babu, Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren, Havildar K Palani, Naik Deepak Singh, Sepoy Gurtej Singh also received their Vir Chakras posthumously for their gallant actions against the vicious attack by the Chinese Army in the Galwan valley in June last year as part of the Operation Snow Leopard. The awards for these gallant soldiers were received by their wives.
Subedar Sanjiv Kumar of 4 Para Special Forces was also awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously today for an operation in the Keran sector in Jammu and Kashmir in which he killed one terrorist and injured two others. His wife received the award from President Ram Nath Kovind.
Among other notable names who were honoured during the investiture ceremony today at the Rashtrapati Bhavan include – Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek R Chaudhari and Navy chief designate Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, who received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM). Military Secretary Lt Gen Rajeev Sirohi received the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM).
On Monday, President Kovind awarded Vir Chakra to Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman for shooting down a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 in February 2019 in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack.
