The president and the Supreme Commander of Indian Armed forces, Pranab Mukherjee presented gallantry awards to defence personnel for their distinguished services at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.
He conferred three Kirti Chakras and ten Shaurya Chakras to armed forces personnel for displaying courage and devotion to duty. He also conferred fifteen Param Vishisht Seva Medals, two Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and twenty two Ati Vishisht Seva Medals to senior officers of the armed officers.
Kirti Chakra Awards were awarded to Lieutenant Commander Abhilash Tony, Major Mahesh Kumar and Wing Commander Darryl Castelino. Lieutenant Commander Abhilash Tony was awarded for completing world voyage non- stop and without any external support in 151 days. Major Mahesh Kumar of Punjab Regiment for his gallant acts in Jammu & Kashmir operations where he killed four terrorists in three separate incidents.
And, Wing Commander Darryl Castelino was awarded for his role in Operation Rahat in Uttrakhand where his chopper crashed with twenty personnel on board after he had helped in rescuing lives of more than eighty people. Castelino died when his Mi-17 helicopter crashed during Operation Rahat. Lieutenant Colonel Bikramjit Singh, a martyr in the terror attack of an army camp in Samba sector of Jammu, was honoured with the Shaurya Chakra. Along with it, Param Vishisht Seva Medals were awarded to Lieutenant General Ashok Singh of infantry, Air Marshall Jaswinder Singh Chauhan of Air Force and Vice Admiral Niranjan Kumar Nadella and others.
Kirti Chakra is given for courageous action or self- sacrifice away from the battle field. It is equivalent of the Mahavir Chakra and second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards while Shaurya Chakra is awarded for valour, courageous action or self- sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy.
Param Vishisht Seva medal is awarded in recognition of peace- time service of the most exceptional order. While the Uttam Seva medal is a military decoration for wartime distinguished service. It is awarded for a high degree of service in an exceptional context like war, conflict or hostility.
The Ati- Vishisht Seva medal is given for distinguished service of an exceptional order to all ranks of the armed forces.
The president also paid tribute to martyrs who died for the sake of their country.
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