Kirti Chakra Awarded Posthumously to Two

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Major James Thomas of 10 Sikh Light Infantry and Fireman Vijay Pal Singh of Uttar Pradesh have been awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously for ''exceptional valour, commendable courage, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice'' in this year's Independence Day Presidential Awards, announced here today on the eve of the 60th I-Day.

As Company Commander, Major James Thomas was entrusted with the prevention of infiltration across the Line of Control. On January 27, this year he established an ambush in general area in Poonch district of Jammu&Kashmir.

Early on the morning of January 28, he observed a group of terrorists attempting to skirt the ambush and infiltrate towards the right flank.

Realising the impending danger to own troops in the rear, he decisively moved forward to intercept the infiltrating terrorists, lobbed grenades and engaged them in a fierce firefight.

With great determination, unflinching courage and unmindful of personal danger, he succeeded in killing four terrorists single- handedly.

In doing so, he also sustained grave splinter injuries.

Meanwhile, he observed two more terrorists closing in from the other flank. He crawled towards the terrorists to lob grenades and fired at them with his personal weapon.

Major Thomas succeeded in killing the two terrorists, before succumbing to his injuries.

Fireman Vijay Pal Singh was one of the member of the Fire Service Team which reached Victoria Park, Meerut on April 10 this year where a huge fire had erupted at the consumer show of 'Brand India'.

Vijay Pal entered the burning Pandal and started moving the people out of the premises one by one.

Unmindful of the burning and dropping polymer and explosion of gas cylinders and A C compressors, he kept on moving further and continued his work with missionary zeal and dedication.

However, his foot got stuck in the wooden floor.

By then, he had saved more than 25 lives.

He struggled and managed to free himself but by that time, he had received serious burn injuries.

Vijay Pal Singh succumbed to injuries after 13 days of hospitalisation at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.

UNI DG PA ND1708