Independence Day 2023 Honors: Kirti Chakra for Four, Shaurya Chakra for Eleven, and Other Gallantry Recognitions
On Independence Day 2023, notable honors have been bestowed upon brave individuals for their acts of valor. Among the 23 CRPF soldiers who tragically lost their lives in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh, four have been posthumously recognized with the Kirti Chakra. The recipients of this honor are Inspector Dilip Kumar Das from Assam, Head Constable Raj Kumar Yadav from Ayodhya, and Constables Bablu Rabba from Assam and Shambhu Roy from Tripura. These courageous souls sacrificed their lives in an attack that occurred in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region in April 2021.
Furthermore, eleven individuals have been awarded the Shaurya Chakra, with five of them receiving this distinction posthumously. Notably, two individuals are being honored with the Shaurya Chakra for the second time.
The gallant efforts of 52 Army personnel, including Major Ranjit Kumar (Rashtriya Rifles) and Major Santosh Kumar (Gorkha Rifles), both of whom hail from Kerala, along with three Navy personnel and four Air Force personnel, including Squadron Leader G L Vineeth from Kerala, have been recognized with gallantry awards.
The valorous contributions of 30 individuals involved in various military operations have been acknowledged, including Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Thomas from the Army Aviation Squadron, a Malayali, who played a crucial role in Operation Rakshak.
In a touching tribute, a posthumous medal has been awarded to Madhu, a member of the Army’s 21st Dog Squad unit, who lost its life during a military operation.
