Prez Gives Gallantry, Distinguished Svc Awards to Defence Personnel

New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) President APJ Abdul Kalam today presented Two Kirti Chakras and Eight Shaurya Chakras -- all posthumous -- for gallantry by Army personnel while on Internal Security duties in Jammu&Kashmir and the country's North-East.

At a function in the glittering Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan here, President Kalam presented the poshumous awards to the next-of-kin of Col Gurbir Singh Sarna and Maj James Thomas -- both Kirti Chakras -- and Shaurya Chakras to the next-of-kin of Lt Col Vinay Rao Chauhan, Capt Shashi Bhushan Singh, Naib Subedar Raj Bahadur, CHM Sarabjit Singh, Naik Gurjant Singh, Sepoy Satnam Singh, Rifleman HB Singh and Gunner Ranjeet Singh.

Col GS Sarna was commanding the 29 Rashtriya Rifles when he was martyred in a gallant action against militants in Pattan District (J&K) last December 23.

Maj James Thomas, of the 10 Sikh Light Infantry, laid down his life fighting the militants in Poonch District (J&K) on January 28 last year.

All those awarded the Shaurya Chakras posthumously lost their lives in J&K except Rifleman HB Singh, of 7 Assam Rifles, who laid down his life in the North-East.

Among other awardees, Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Aditya Singh was the seniormost who received the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. Other PVSM awardees were Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, DGDS, and Lt Gen RK Mehta, Military Advisor in the UN HQ at New York.

Besides, Ten Shaurya Chakras and 15 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals were also presented to serving Army personnel.

UNI