The Hindu : National : President confers gallantry awards

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Saturday, Apr 01, 2006

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National

President confers gallantry awards

Staff Reporter

Padma Bandopadhyay, the first woman to become Air Marshal, awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal

PHOTOS: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY, PTI

HONOURING THE BRAVE: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presents the Shaurya Chakra (posthumous) to the wifeof Sanjai Kumar, Superintendent (Buildings and Roads), Border Roads Organisation, at the RashtrapatiBhavan in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam conferred the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Shaurya Chakra on those who showed outstanding courage in the line of duty, at the second defence investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Friday.

The Param Vishisht Seva Medal, awarded for distinguished service of the most exceptional order, was conferred on 17 soldiers. They included Lieutenant General Arvind Sharma, Vice Admiral Arun Kumar Singh, Air Marshal Avinash Deodatta Joshi, Air Marshal Avdesh Kumar Singh, Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Chopra and Lieutenant General Ramji Rai.

The first woman to reach the rank of Air Marshal in the Indian Air Force, Padma Bandopadhyay, was also awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal amid thunderous applause. Air Marshal Bandopadhyay who served the Air Force in the medical field, has been conferred this honour after retirement.

Lieutenant General Aditya Singh and Lieutenant General Kulwant Singh Dogra were awarded Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

The President also conferred the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, given for distinguished service of an exceptional order. Among others, this honour was conferred on Major General Arun Roye, Major General Deepak Anand, Major General Darshanjit Singh Grewal, Major General Vijay Kumar Singh, Major General Amarjeet Singh Sekhon, Rear Admiral Satish Soni, Air Vice Marshal Keshava Murthy Rama Sundara, Air Vice Marshal Rakesh Yadav and retired Commodore T.H. Ram. The Ati Vishisht Seva Medal was awarded to 25 soldiers this time.

The Shaurya Chakra, given for gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy, was conferred on Wing Commander Alagaraja Perumal for showing extraordinary professional courage and flying skills. Wing Commander Perumal's aircraft was hit when he was entrusted with a vital photography mission near the Line of Control. Despite his aircraft having been badly damaged, he displayed tremendous presence of mind, got out of the danger zone and managed to save the mission photographs.

Havildar Rathwa Gordhan Bhai Kalji Bhai of the 11 Mahar Regiment was conferred the Shaurya Chakra posthumously for exhibiting indomitable courage when under heavy fire.

PHOTOS: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY, PTI

Havildar Surve Madhusudan Narayan receives his Shaurya Chakra.

His widow was given the medal on his behalf. Mr. Kalam walked up to her to hand over the medal.

Havildar Rathwa was fatally wounded when he was leading an ambush in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Shaurya Chakra was conferred on Naik Ishwar Singh for showing courage of the highest order in an ambush against terrorists near the Line of Control. Naik Singh killed three terrorists in an encounter in June 2004.

Squadron Leader Sushil Vijay Sansare and Squadron Leader P.R.S. Panickar were awarded the Shaurya Chakra for displaying courage and foresight in tsunami hit Car Nicobar.

The honour was conferred posthumously on Rameshan J, Sanjai Kumar, Sukumar Sharma, Christapher F, Laxman Singh and Vikram Singh of the Border Roads Organisation.

Havildar Chandra Bahadur Gurung of 9 Rashtriya Rifles and Major Salman Ahmad Khan of Sikh/6 Rashtriya Rifles were also awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously.

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