Major Rohit Suri and nineteen heroes of the Indian army's 4 and 9 Para Special Forces (SF) who successfully carried out the surgical strike along the Line of Control (LoC) in September last year were honoured with gallantry awards today on the occasion of 68th Republic Day,
Major Rohit Suri of 4 Para was the Commanding Officer who led one of the teams across the LoC targeting terrorists' launch pads, was awarded the Kirti Chakra, second highest peacetime gallantry award, on the eve of the Republic Day.
Eastern Army Commander, Lt. General Praveen Bakshi and Southern Army Commander, Lt. General PM Hariz, who were superseded by the Chief of Army Staff Major General Bipin Rawat, were awared with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), which is the highest award for distinguished service.
Five of the 10 Shaurya Chakras awarded to the Army went to the Para SF. In addition, the Commanding Officers of the two Para units were given Yudh Seva Medal (YSM).
The Indian Navy got three gallantry awards which include one Shaurya Chakra and two Nav Sena medals.
A total of 777 security personnel, including the police and paramilitary force, will be awarded medals on the occasion of 68th Republic Day while 100 personnel will be handed the gallantry awards.
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Jammu and Kashmir tops the list of the gallantry awards with 32 Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG), followed by Andhra Pradesh-12, Assam-four, Chhatisgarh-seven, Delhi-three, Jharkhand-nine, Manipur-four, and Uttar Pradesh-seven.
Out of the 100 PMGs, 10 have been decorated posthumously.
Apart from the police force, the Border Security Force ( BSF) will get five PMGs, the Central Industrial Security Force ( CISF)-16, and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) will be getting one gallantry award.
"Total 777 personnel have been awarded police medals on the occasion of the Republic Day this year. Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG) have been awarded to 100 personnel, President's Police Medals for Distinguished Service to 80 personnel and Police Medal for Meritorious Service to 597 personnel," an official release stated.