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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Independence day: Gallantry awards honour heroes of Operation Sindoor; IAF, Army and BSF personnel recognised for valour
NEW DELHI: Nine IAF fighter pilots, four soldiers and two BSF personnel have been awarded Vir Chakra, the nation's third-highest wartime gallantry medal, for their role in Operation Sindoor , under which India conducted deep cross-border precision strikes against terror hubs and military installations in Pakistan. Operation Sindoor was the prominent theme of 127 gallantry medals & 40 distinguished service awards. IAF, Army & BSF personnel honoured for Sindoor valour Operation Sindoor was the prominent theme of 127 gallantry medals and 40 distinguished service awards approved by the President in the awards list for the 79th Independence Day. They included four Kirti Chakras, which is the country's second-highest peacetime gallantry medal, 15 Vir Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras, 58 Sena Medals, six Nao Sena Medals, seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals (SYSMs), nine Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 24 Yudh Seva Medals, two Bar to Sena Medals, and 290 Mention-in-Despatches. Vir Chakras were awarded to IAF officers, Group Captains Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Manish Arora, Animesh Patni and Kunal Kalra, Wing Commander Joy Chandra, Squadron Leaders Sarthak Kumar, Siddhant Singh and Rizwan Malik, and Flight Lieutenant Aarshveer Singh Thakur. While the Army awardees were Colonel Koshank Lamba, Lt ColonelSushil Bisht, Naib Subedar Satish Kumar and Rifleman Sunil Kumar, the ones from BSF were sub-inspector Mohd Imteyaj and constable Deepak Chingakham who were killed defending the highly-sensitive Kharkola outpost in Jammu against intense shelling and drone attacks during the cross-border hostilities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This year's most comfortable shoes are a hit with the over-40 crowd Ultra-Comfortable Shoes Undo SYSMs, highest wartime distinguished service decoration that has been awarded only a few times in the past, was awarded to seven top military officers who planned and executed Operation Sindoor. They are Lt-Gen Pratik Sharma (Northern Army Command chief), Lt-Gen Rajiv Ghai (DGMO), Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh (then Western Naval Command chief), Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari (IAF vice chief), Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor (Southern Air Command chief), Air Marshal Jeetandra Mishra (Western Air Command chief), and Air Marshal A K Bharti (DG Air Operations). Twenty-six IAF officers and air warriors were awarded Vayu Sena Medal, most of them for their role in the operation for managing and operating S-400 surface-to-air missile and other air defence systems to intercept missiles and waves of drones launched from across the border. Sixteen BSF personnel, who fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces during Operation Sindoor, successfully defending their posts in J&K and destroying enemy posts and their surveillance equipment in retaliatory fire, were, in turn, honoured with police medals for gallantry.
NDTV
14 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
9 Air Force Officers Awarded Vir Chakra For Bravery During Op Sindoor
New Delhi: As festivities for Independence Day begin, the centre on Thursday awarded Vir Chakra to nine Indian Air Force officers for their brave contributions in the service of the nation during Operation Sindoor. The Vir Chakra has been awarded to nine Indian Air Force officers, including fighter pilots, who targeted terrorist groups' headquarters in Pakistan's Muridke and Bahawalpur and the neighbouring country's military assets. Group Captains (GP) Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Manish Arora, Animesh Patni, Kunal Kalra, Wing commanders (WG CDR) Joy Chandra, Squadron Leaders (Sqn Ldr) Sarthak Kumar, Siddhant Singh, Rizwan Malik, Flight Lieutenant (FLT LT) Aarshveer Singh Thakur have been awarded Vir Chakra. The Indian Air Force has brought down at least six Pakistani aircraft in the action. Vir Chakra is a military bravery award presented to wartime heroes for their gallant actions on the battlefield. It is third in line after Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra. This comes after Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said that India took down at least five fighter jets of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and downed one large aircraft which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. He said the aircraft that was brought down "is the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about". The IAF Chief, who delivered the keynote address at the 16th edition of the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture on Saturday, lauded the successful completion of Operation Sindoor, underscoring the primacy of Air Power in modern military conflicts and its significance in national security. "We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) aircraft or an AEW &C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. The Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists. India repelled the subsequent Pakistani retaliation and pounded its airbases.
Economic Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
India's third-highest wartime Gallantry Award for IAF warriors who targeted Pakistan's Muridke, Bahawalpur terror bases
In recognition of their exceptional bravery during Operation Sindoor, the Indian government has awarded Vir Chakras to nine Indian Air Force officers. These officers, including fighter pilots, played a crucial role in targeting terrorist headquarters in Pakistan and neutralizing military assets. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads As festivities for Independence Day begin, the centre on Thursday awarded Vir Chakra to nine Indian Air Force officers for their brave contributions in the service of the nation during Operation Sindoor The Vir Chakra has been awarded to nine Indian Air Force officers, including fighter pilots, who targeted terrorist groups' headquarters in Pakistan's Muridke and Bahawalpur and the neighbouring country's military Captains (GP) Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Manish Arora, Animesh Patni, Kunal Kalra, Wing commanders (WG CDR) Joy Chandra, Squadron Leaders (Sqn Ldr) Sarthak Kumar, Siddhant Singh, Rizwan Malik, Flight Lieutenant (FLT LT) Aarshveer Singh Thakur have been awarded Vir Indian Air Force has brought down at least six Pakistaircraft in the Chakra is a military bravery award presented to wartime heroes for their gallant actions on the battlefield. It is third in line after Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir comes after Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said that India took down at least five fighter jets of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and downed one large aircraft which was taken on at a distance of about 300 said the aircraft that was brought down "is the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about".The IAF Chief, who delivered the keynote address at the 16th edition of the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture on Saturday, lauded the successful completion of Operation Sindoor, underscoring the primacy of Air Power in modern military conflicts and its significance in national security."We have at least five fighters confirmed kills and one large aircraft, which could be either an ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) aircraft or an AEW &C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft, which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres. This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill that we can talk about," Air Chief Marshal AP Singh launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. The Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 repelled the subsequent Pakistani retaliation and pounded its airbases.
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Independence Day 2025 gallantry awards: 9 Indian Air Force, 4 Army personnel get Vir Chakra for role in Op Sindoor
Thirteen personnel – nine from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and four from the Army – have been awarded the Vir Chakra, which is the third-highest wartime gallantry award, for their role in Operation Sindoor. Group Captain Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Group Captain Manish Arora, Group Captain Animesh Patni, Group Captain Kunal Kalra, Wing Commander Joy Chandra, Squadron Leader Sarthak Kumar, Squadron Leader Siddhant Singh, Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik and Flight Lieutenant Aarshveer Singh Thakur are among the IAF officers who have been awarded the Vir Chakra. Colonel Koshank Lamba of 302 Medium Regiment, Lt Col Sushil Bisht of 1988 Medium Battery, Naib Subedar Satish Kumar of 4 Dogra, and Rifleman Sunil Kumar of 4 Jammu And Kashmir Light Infantry are among the Army personnel who have got the Vir Chakra. While the citations have not been released, it is learnt that the 13 Vir Chakras have been given to the IAF and Army personnel for their gallantry in Operation Sindoor, launched in May to target terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Seven top military officers have also been awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal – a rare honour given for exceptional operational planning, coordination and execution – for their role in Operation Sindoor. This includes Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma; former Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai; former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh; Vice Chief of IAF Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari; Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor; Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra; and DG Air (Ops) Air Marshal AK Bharti. These are among the 127 gallantry awards and 40 distinguished service awards that President Droupadi Murmu approved for the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on Thursday, on the eve of Independence Day. Four Army personnel have also been awarded the Kirti Chakra, which is the second highest peacetime gallantry award. Captain Lalrinawma Sailo from 4 Para (Special Forces), Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari from the Army Service Corps, Lance Naik Meenatchi Sundaram A and Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar of 34 and 1 Rashtriya Rifles are learnt to have got the award for their role in counter-terrorist operations. Eight from the Army, one from the IAF and two from the Navy have also been awarded the Shaurya Chakra. In total, the President approved 4 Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras, 2 Bar to Sena Medals, 58 Sena Medals, six Nao Sena Medals, 26 Vayu Sena Medals; seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals; nine Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 24 Yudh Seva Medals. The President has also approved 290 Mention-in-Despatches — 115 from the Army, 5 from the Navy, 167 from the IAF, and 3 from the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB).
New Indian Express
18 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Nine Air Force officers awarded Vir Chakra for gallant action on battlefield
NEW DELHI: As festivities for Independence Day begin, the centre on Thursday awarded Vir Chakra to nine Indian Air Force officers for their brave contributions in the service of the nation during Operation Sindoor. The Vir Chakra has been awarded to nine Indian Air Force officers, including fighter pilots, who targeted terrorist groups' headquarters in Pakistan's Muridke and Bahawalpur and the neighbouring country's military assets. Group Captains (GP) Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Manish Arora, Animesh Patni, Kunal Kalra, Wing commanders (WG CDR) Joy Chandra, Squadron Leaders (Sqn Ldr) Sarthak Kumar, Siddhant Singh, Rizwan Malik, Flight Lieutenant (FLT LT) Aarshveer Singh Thakur have been awarded Vir Chakra. The Indian Air Force has brought down at least six Pakistani aircraft in the action. Vir Chakra is a military bravery award presented to wartime heroes for their gallant actions on the battlefield. It is third in line after Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra. This comes after Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said that India took down at least five fighter jets of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and downed one large aircraft which was taken on at a distance of about 300 kilometres.
