28 Jan : Major D Sreeram Kumar, late Major Mohit Sharma and Havildar Rajesh Kumar were honoured with the country’s highest peace time gallantry medal- the Ashok Chakra on Tuesday.
President Pratibha Patil presented the medals to the two officers and the jawan during the Republic Day parade in which South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was the chief guest.
The medals of Maj Mohit Sharma of the 1 Para (Special Forces), and Havildar Rajesh Kumar of 11 Rajputana Rifles were awarded posthomously and received by their wives.
Maj Mohit Sharma, born in Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh and commissioned in 90 Medium Regiment (Artillery) in March 2004, was killed in a battle with terrorists in the Hafruda forest in Jammu and Kashmir in March last.Maj D Sreeram Kumar, serving with 30 Assam Rifles since March 2007, had eliminated 12 terrorists in counter insurgency operations in the northeast.
Havildar Rajesh Kumar returned fire by terrorists in dense forests of Kupwara and killed them.The President has also approved awards of 442 gallantry and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others.
This includes one Ashoka Chakra, six Kirti Chakras, 26 Shaurya Chakras, three Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 118 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry), 28 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, one Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 50 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, 16 Yudh Seva Medals, two Bar to Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), 38 Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), eight Nao Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), 14 Vayu Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), two Bar to Vishisht Seva Medals and 119 Vishisht Seva Medals.