Who was Colonel Manpreet Singh, the martyred Indian Army officer awarded Kirti Chakra?
On the eve of Independence Day, Indian President Droupadi Murmu approved a total of 103 Gallantry Awards to the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel. While there were no Ashoka Chakra awardees this year, the list included four Kirti Chakra recipients, the second-highest peacetime gallantry medal.
Three Kirti Chakras awarded posthumously
Of the Kirti Chakra awards conferred this year, three have been awarded posthumously. These include Colonel Manpreet Singh, Rifleman Ravi Kumar, and Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Muzammil Bhat.
The other recipient of the Kirti Chakra this year is Major Malla Rama Gopal Naidu, who has been recognised for his bravery as the leader of an ambush party deployed along the Line of Control in Kupwara district on 26 October 2023.
Who was Colonel Manpreet Singh
Colonel Manpreet Singh, a combat veteran who was awarded the Sena Medal during his tenure as second-in-command of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles, laid down his life during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag in September 2023.
Also read:?Anantnag Encounter: Bravehearts Laid To Rest By Loved Ones
Colonel Singh was commanding the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Rashtriya Rifles and was involved in a search operation based on specific intelligence inputs.
Colonel Singh, a native of Chandigarh and a third-generation Army man, made the supreme sacrifice for the country during the encounter.
DySP Humayun Bhat also awarded Kirti Chakra
Jammu and Kashmir Police DySP Humayun Bhat, who also laid down his life in the same encounter, was also awarded the Kirti Chakra this year.
Shaurya Chakra for Major Aashish Dhonchak
Major Aashish Dhonchak of the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment, who was the third officer to lose his life in the encounter, has been posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra, the third-highest gallantry award in India.
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