Op Sindoor warriors dominate honours; Pilots, S-400 operators among awardees

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu approved 127 gallantry awards and 40 distinguished service awards on the eve of the 79th Independence Day, with most of the honours going to the personnel who took part in Operation Sindoor. The President approved four Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras and 16 Shaurya Chakras on the occasion.Among the awardees are pilots who carried out deep strikes against terror targets and Pakistani military establishment, air defence operators who used systems like the S-400 to thwart Pakistani attacks and senior commanders who directed the operations during the May 7-10 operation.

A total of 1,090 personnel of police, fire services, Civil Defence & Home Guards and Correctional Services have also been awarded gallantry and service medals. Out of these, 233 personnel have been awarded the Medal for Gallantry while 99 have been awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service.

In the honours lists are nine Air Force pilots from Operation Sindoor who have been given the Vir Chakra, India’s third highest wartime gallantry award. Besides, 26 have been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry while one has been given the Shaurya Chakra. These include a group captain and a squadron leader, who are sons of former Air Force chiefs.

In all, seven senior commanders, including the Northern Army commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma have been conferred the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal – all for their contributions to Operation Sindoor. Others who have been given the honour are the director general military operations, the Central and Southern Air Force commanders, the director general air operations, the vice chief of air staff and the Western Navy commander.

The Air Force has also accorded mention in despatches to 167 personnel, out of which 162 are for Operation Sindoor. These include at least five women officers who took part in the operation. For now, the air force has not shared citations that detail actions taken by personnel who have been accorded the gallantry medals.However, the Border Security Force shared citations of two personnel who have been given the Vir Chakra posthumously. These include sub inspector (late) Mohd Imteyaj, who was the post commander of border outpost Kharkola, on the international border in Jammu area. According to the citation, his post came under intense firing on May 9 and he directed a strong response. It added that Pakistani drones then targeted his post and he got grievously wounded but continued to direct troops under his command.Constable Deepak Chingakham, who was in the same post, refused to be evacuated and stayed with his post commander and continued to put up a fight. He, too, has been posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.