Galwan clash Colonel B S Babu posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra
New Delhi Nov 23 PTI Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment who led from the front against the brutal Chinese attack in Galwan Valley in June last year was on Tuesday posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind for displaying exemplary courage during the clashBabus wife B Santoshi and mother Manjula received the award at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the top military brass of the countryMahavir Chakra is the second-highest military award for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy Four other soldiers Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren Havildar Gunner K Palani Naik Deepak Singh and Sepoy Gurtej Singh who also laid down their lives valiantly fighting the Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley clash on June 15 last year have been conferred with Vir Chakra awards posthumouslyNaib Sorens wife Laxmi Mani Soren Havildar Palanis wife Vanathi Devi and Naik Singhs wife Rekha Singh received the awards from the PresidentSepoy Gurtej Singhs mother Prakash Kaur and father Virsa Singh received the Vir Chakra from the PresidentTwenty Indian Army personnel has laid down their lives in the fierce hand-to-hand combat in eastern Ladakhs Galwan Valley clash an incident that marked the most serious military conflicts between the two sides in decadesColonel Babu despite being grievously injured led the Indian troops from the front with absolute command and control despite hostile conditionsHe valiantly resisted the enemy attack till his last breath while inspiring and motivating his troops to hold ground during the Operation Snow LeopardThe citation said Col Babu has been awarded the Mahavir Chakra for displaying exemplary leadership astute professionalism and supreme sacrifice in the line of dutyThe Indian Army has built a memorial for the Gallants of Galwan at Post 120 in eastern LadakhThe memorial mentioned their heroics under operation Snow Leopard and the way they evicted the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army PLA troops from the area while inflicting heavy casualties on themNaib Subedar Soren who was part of the 16 Bihar Regiment led his column and resisted the enemys attempt to push back the Indian soldiers while establishing an observation post according to official details He organised his column countered the adversary forcefully and stopped them in their attempt to push back Indian troopsSoren displayed raw courage fighting with a resolute spirit before succumbing to his injuriesHavildar Palani stood bravely and tried to defend his comrades even when the enemy attacked him with a sharp weaponHis act of valour inspired other fellow soldiers to fight fiercely and resist enemy aggression In spiteof his grievous injuries he continued to hold his ground resolutely and in the finest traditions of the Indian Army and laid down his life for the motherland according to the detailsNaik Deepak Singh who too belonged to 16 Bihar regiment and was performing duties as a nursing assistant played apivotal role in rendering treatment and saving the lives of more than 30 Indian soldiersSepoy Gurtej Singh who was from the third battalion of the Punjab regiment successfully spotted the enemy troops while establishing the observation postSingh displayed raw courage and exceptional combat skills in resisting the enemy troops and kept fighting even after he was seriously injured accordingto the official accounts of the clash Several other armed forces personnel were also honoured at the ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan PTI MPB DV
New Delhi Nov 23 PTI Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment who led from the front against the brutal Chinese attack in Galwan Valley in June last year was on Tuesday posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind for displaying exemplary courage during the clashBabus wife B Santoshi and mother Manjula received the award at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the top military brass of the countryMahavir Chakra is the second-highest military award for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy Four other soldiers Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren Havildar Gunner K Palani Naik Deepak Singh and Sepoy Gurtej Singh who also laid down their lives valiantly fighting the Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley clash on June 15 last year have been conferred with Vir Chakra awards posthumouslyNaib Sorens wife Laxmi Mani Soren Havildar Palanis wife Vanathi Devi and Naik Singhs wife Rekha Singh received the awards from the PresidentSepoy Gurtej Singhs mother Prakash Kaur and father Virsa Singh received the Vir Chakra from the PresidentTwenty Indian Army personnel has laid down their lives in the fierce hand-to-hand combat in eastern Ladakhs Galwan Valley clash an incident that marked the most serious military conflicts between the two sides in decadesColonel Babu despite being grievously injured led the Indian troops from the front with absolute command and control despite hostile conditionsHe valiantly resisted the enemy attack till his last breath while inspiring and motivating his troops to hold ground during the Operation Snow LeopardThe citation said Col Babu has been awarded the Mahavir Chakra for displaying exemplary leadership astute professionalism and supreme sacrifice in the line of dutyThe Indian Army has built a memorial for the Gallants of Galwan at Post 120 in eastern LadakhThe memorial mentioned their heroics under operation Snow Leopard and the way they evicted the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army PLA troops from the area while inflicting heavy casualties on themNaib Subedar Soren who was part of the 16 Bihar Regiment led his column and resisted the enemys attempt to push back the Indian soldiers while establishing an observation post according to official details He organised his column countered the adversary forcefully and stopped them in their attempt to push back Indian troopsSoren displayed raw courage fighting with a resolute spirit before succumbing to his injuriesHavildar Palani stood bravely and tried to defend his comrades even when the enemy attacked him with a sharp weaponHis act of valour inspired other fellow soldiers to fight fiercely and resist enemy aggression In spiteof his grievous injuries he continued to hold his ground resolutely and in the finest traditions of the Indian Army and laid down his life for the motherland according to the detailsNaik Deepak Singh who too belonged to 16 Bihar regiment and was performing duties as a nursing assistant played apivotal role in rendering treatment and saving the lives of more than 30 Indian soldiersSepoy Gurtej Singh who was from the third battalion of the Punjab regiment successfully spotted the enemy troops while establishing the observation postSingh displayed raw courage and exceptional combat skills in resisting the enemy troops and kept fighting even after he was seriously injured accordingto the official accounts of the clash Several other armed forces personnel were also honoured at the ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan PTI MPB DV
