Two Armymen get Ashoka Chakra for JK operations

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 25

The country’s highest peace-time gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra, has been conferred posthumously upon Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh of the 13 Rajputana Rifles. He was attached with the 57 Rashtriya Rifles and posted to J&K counter-insurgency operations.

He was leading a search operation in Gurdaji area of Kupwara district of J&K on August 24, 2014 when he came under heavy fire from terrorists which hit one of his colleagues. With utter disregard for his own safety, Naik Neeraj Singh crawled and extricated his colleague. A terrorist threw grenades and opened heavy fire on Naik Neeraj, but he inched closer to the terrorist and shot him dead. Simultaneously, he was shot by another terrorist in the chest. Despite grievous injuries, he pounced on the terrorist, snatched his weapon and killed him in a hand-to-hand combat. The President has also approved awards of 374 gallantry and other defence decorations to armed forces personnel and others on the eve of Republic Day celebrations.

This includes three Kirti Chakra, 12 Shaurya Chakra, 48 Sena Medal (Gallantry), two Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), 11 Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 28 Param Vishisht Seva Medal, three Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, three Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 53 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 13 Yudh Seva Medal, 42 Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), eight Nao Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 19 Vayu Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), four Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal and 124 Vishisht Seva Medal.

The President will also award Ashok Chakra posthumously to Major Mukund Varadarajan of 22 Rajput.