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Kirti Chakra for Indians killed in Kabul explosion

Special Correspondent

124 gallantry awards announced

NEW DELHI: The President has approved 124 gallantry awards to the security forces, including two Ashok Chakra to police personnel and Kirti Chakra to all the four Indians who died in the Kabul Embassy suicide bombing.

The Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest award for gallantry during peacetime, has been conferred posthumously on Pramod Kumar Satapathy of Orissa police and R.P. Diendoh of Meghalaya police.

Assistant Commandant Satapathy had rushed with his men to Nayagarh in Orissa on being informed of an attack by over 500 Maoists in areas close to the State capital of Bhubaneshwar in February this year. The Maoists looted more than 1,200 weapons and killed 14 police personnel and one civilian. Mr. Satapathy followed the Maoists and engaged them although they were in an advantageous position. Though the police party had to retreat, Mr. Satapathy fought bravely till his last breath and forced the Maoists to flee. A large quantity of arms and ammunitions looted earlier from the police was recovered from the site.

R. P. Diendoh of Meghalaya Police Service had volunteered to lead an operation against heavily armed cadres of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council and cadres of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland who had set up a camp deep in the jungles of Meghalaya bordering Assam. The camp was five miles of trekking through tough terrain from the nearest motorable road.

Mr. Diengdoh reached the site just before dawn on November 7 last year and disregarding personal safety, rushed into the camp and called on the cadres to surrender. The militants opened heavy fire on the assault team. Mr. Diengdoh returned the fire and shot dead one militant.

Though struck by a bullet, he captured two militants and then chased the remaining while refusing medical help. He was later carried to a hospital when he fell unconscious due to heavy bleeding. Mr. Diengdoh died before reaching the hospital.

Besides the four Indians killed in the Kabul attack, five more Kirti Chakra were awarded. In addition, the President approved 18 Shaurya Chakras, one Bar to Sena Medal, 87 Sena Medals, six Nao Sena Medals and one Vayu Sena Medal.

The President also approved one President’s Tatrakshak Medal, two President’s Tatrakshak Medals and two Tatrakshak Medals to Coast Guard personnel.

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