Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 6

The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has asked the Army to correct anomalies in the retirement age of Colonels and bring them on a par with similar ranks in the Air Force and the Navy.The AFT Principal Bench, comprising Justice VK Shali and Lt Gen SK Singh (retd), said the anomalies needed to be removed. “We strongly feel the anomalies in the retirement age of Colonels in the Army in relation to their counterparts in the Air Force and the Navy, which have got created due to recent judgments, need to be removed at the earliest by passing a comprehensive order increasing the age of retirement of Army Colonels,” the order said.Col Karunesh Kumar had moved the AFT to seek parity with IAF and Navy, where officers in the ranks of Group Captain and Captain (both equivalent to Colonel) serve till 56 years for age and not 54, as is the case with the Army.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)If the government does not come up with a policy on its own, it could open floodgates of litigation apart from making a particular level of officials in the Army perennially dissatisfied. “Neither such dissatisfied officers would give their best, nor would respondents be able to extract optimum. Such a situation in the force that protects the nation and its sovereignty and integrity can be ill afforded,” the Bench observed.It directed the respondents (Union of India) to increase the retirement age by two years for Colonels to 56 years to bring them on a par with their counterparts in the other two services. The Navy issued a letter dated October 14, 2015, to correct the anomaly. “The Colonels who retired during pendency of their petitions be given consequential benefits,” the Bench said, adding that the direction be enforced before April 30.

Governments past and present are guilty of neglecting the military. How our armed forces perform in the event of Doklam 2.0 will impact the next General Election

When this Government came to power in 2014 on the back of Prime Minister Modi’s spectacular showing, there were great hopes within the military community that the benign neglect the military had been subjected to by the previous regime would be addressed. The previous decade had been truly disastrous and demoralising for the military with its operational capabilities hemorrhaging rapidly as crucial procurement decisions were delayed, reform measures ignored and internecine feuds encouraged, thereby ensuring the hierarchy remained divided in its loyalties.

However, three and a half years down the line, not enough has changed. If anything, the hallmark of the Modi Administration towards the military has been a not very sympathetic attitude towards form and tradition in matters military, a creeping arrogance, and an uncalled for subservience to the bureaucratic/intelligenceestablishment led by the National Security Advisor. What else can explain Union Minister Nitin Gadhkari’s petulant and, I dare say, rather childish remarks, questioning the need for the Naval family housing in “posh” Colaba at a public event in Mumbai? While his speech has become a source of much-good humored banter within the Forces, it reflects not just his ignorance of matters military but also of Mumbai’s past. If he had been aware that it was the military which first established itself in the wilderness of Colaba Woods in the mid 19th century and was wholly responsible for its subsequent development, he may have chosen his words wisely. That he was just mouthing views that would be music to the ears of the land mafia which views defence real estate within our metros as the ultimate prize is neither here nor there. But it must be said there has been no shortage of attempts by politicians of all hues to move the military out of metros to free land for other ‘more productive’ purposes.

Soon after Gadkari’s unfair salvo came the disappointing absence of the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister from the customary ‘At Home’ held by the Chief of Army Staff on Army Day, which is traditionally attended by the Supreme Commander, the President, and the Prime Minister, along with his senior Cabinet colleagues. The absence has not gone down well within the armed forces for whom such albeit symbolic events hold great value and act as morale boosters down the line. Hardliners believe the absence of the Prime Minister and Raksha Mantri even amounted to disrespecting the office of the President. There are suggestions that this absence was in retaliation for the manner in which a section of veterans heckled the Raksha Mantri the previous day during a meet organised to felicitate the veterans. While such behaviour was entirely uncalled for and condemnable, and cannot be justified under any circumstances, the Government did not help its cause by the strong-arm tactics of local police during the peaceful OROP relay hunger strike that was being carried out at Jantar Mantar.

Leaving this aside, what is a matter of grave concern has been the lop-sided priorities of the Government towards the military vis-a-vis the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) that have come to the fore. With the Defence Budget being pegged at its lowest since 1962, at just 1.58 per cent of the GDP, it is not a surprise that the raising of the new Mountain Strike Corps is at a stand-still due to non- availability of funds. However, the MHA doesn’t seem to be impacted by this resource crunch as it continues with further accretions to the CAPF, the latest being its declared intention to provide the ITBP with an air wing, add another 15 battalions between it and the BSF, and set up a separate force to guard the Indo-Myanmar border.Add to this the attempt to, in my view blindly, equate and equip these forces on the lines of the Army’s infantry battalions regardless of what their roles and operational tasking demand. With reports that it intends to equip some ITBP battalions with Infantry Combat Vehicles, nothing could be more foolhardy or wasteful than this fanciful belief that the CAPF can be enhanced to the Army’s level without the need to change their ethos, training standards or manning profile.Of course, it begs the question why do border police, that are primarily meant to control trans-border movement during peace time and act as a tripwire and provide early warning to the military in war time, need to emulate the Army and be equipped with mortars and medium machine guns?

Then there is the question of military reforms. While it has decided to reduce logistic elements of the Army based on a selective implementation of the recommendations of the Shekatkar Committee, important issues to restructure higher defence management, the functioning of the DRDO and the Ordnance Factories continue to be ignored. The necessity for the appointment of a single point military advisor in the form of the Chief of Defence Staff, the establishment of Joint Theatre Commands, restructuring of MoD and the Defence Production architecture are issues that needed to be resolved yesterday.

It does not need Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s forceful advocacy of the universally accepted proposition that only the strong survive and nations are only as strong as their militaries, propounded during his speech at the just concluded Raisina Dialogue, to bring this fact home. We are aware of this and yet our political leadership, especially in decades past, has deliberately ignored and downgraded the military due to their visceral fear of Generals replicating the acts of our Western neighbor despite no such proclivity shown. In any event, the Government may soon have to face up to the consequences of this previous neglect and not going the extra mile to make up for the sins of its predecessors if one is to take media reports of Chinese troop accretions in North Doklam at face value. Undoubtedly, how our military performs in the event of Doklam 2.0 will contribute to the Modi Government’s re-election prospects, perhaps more than any other issue,in the coming General Election.

(The writer is a military veteran and consultant with the Observer Research Foundation. Views expressed are entirely personal)

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 27

Lt Gen JS Sandhu, General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps, met Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today and briefed him about security management situation in the Valley following the stringent enforcement of the counter-infiltration grid along the Line of Control.The Governor appreciated the Army’s strong support to the security forces in carrying out counter-terrorism operations in the Valley.Lt General Sandhu is shortly moving to the Army Headquarters on the completion of his extended tenure as the General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps. The Governor bade farewell to the Corps Commander and wished him a successful tenure ahead.

President Ram Nath Kovind wipes his face and eyes with his handkerchief after presenting the award to Corporal Nirala’s wife on Republic Day.

New Delhi, January 26

President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday appeared emotional after he awarded the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime military decoration, posthumously to Air Force Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala here.Corporal Nirala laid down his life after gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district in November.After presenting the award to Corporal Nirala’s wife Sushmanand and his mother Malti Devi at the Republic Day Parade, Kovind was seen wiping his face and eyes with his handkerchief.Corporal Nirala was part of a Garud Special Forces Unit of the IAF, a detachment of which was attached to a Rashtriya Rifles battalion under the aegis of Op Rakshak.On November 18 last year, an offensive was launched at Chanderger village of Bandipora based on specific intelligence. The Garud detachment covertly approached the target house where the terrorists were hiding and laid a close quarter ambush.In the violent exchange of fire, Corporal Nirala was hit by a volley of small arms fire. Despite being critically injured, he continued the retaliatory fire.He later succumbed to the fatal gunshot wounds. PTI

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PARAM VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL

1. IC-35479Y LT GEN BALWANT SINGH NEGI, UYSM, YSM, SM, VSM**, INF
2. IC-35796A LT GEN KANWAL JEET SINGH GILL, AVSM, VSM, EME (RETD)
3. IC-35904Y LT GEN SARATH CHAND, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, INF
4. IC-35919F LT GEN AMARJEET SINGH, AVSM**, SM, INF
5. IC-35923K LT GEN JAGBIR SINGH CHEEMA, AVSM, VSM, INF (RETD)
6. IC-35960X LT GEN SHRAVAN KUMAR PATYAL, UYSM, SM, INF
7. IC-35965W LT GEN RAJENDRA RAMRAO NIMBHORKAR, UYSM, AVSM, SM**, VSM, INF
8. IC-35987P LT GEN DEWAN RABINDRANATH SONI, VSM, ARMD
9. IC-38311X LT GEN SATISH KUMAR DUA, UYSM, SM, VSM, INF
10. IC-38654N LT GEN DEVRAJ ANBU, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, INF
11. IC-38679A LT GEN ABHAY KRISHNA, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, INF
12. IC-38722W LT GEN CHERISH MATHSON, SM, VSM, INF
13. IC-39083M LT GEN SANJAY KUMAR JHA, AVSM, YSM, SM, INF
14. IC-39098P LT GEN GURPRATAP SINGH DHILLON, AVSM, YSM, SM, INF
15. IC-39295X LT GEN PARMINDER JIT SINGH PANNU, AVSM, VSM, INF
16. IC-39818L LT GEN SURESH SHARMA, AVSM, ENGRS
17. MR-03992M LT GEN ARUP KUMAR DAS, AMC
18. IC-38691F MAJ GEN JATINDER SINGH BEDI, ARTY (RETD)
19. IC-40700W MAJ GEN SANJAY THAPA, ARTY

KIRTI CHAKRA

1. IC-66219P MAJ VIJAYANT BIST, JAK LI

UTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL

1. IC-38753W LT GEN JASWINDER SINGH SANDHU, AVSM, VSM, INF
2. IC-39185H LT GEN AJAE KUMAR SHARMA, YSM, SM, INF
3. IC-39465W LT GEN AMARJEET SINGH BEDI, YSM, VSM, INF
4. IC-39492A LT GEN ANIL CHAUHAN, AVSM, SM, VSM, INF

BAR TO ATI VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL

1. IC-35962H LT GEN LALIT KUMAR PANDEY, AVSM, SM, INF (RETD)
2. IC-39070P LT GEN RANBIR SINGH, AVSM, YSM, SM, INF

ATI VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL

1. IC-35201X LT GEN AJAI KUMAR SAHGAL, VSM, AAD (RETD)
2. IC-35955M LT GEN AMRIK SINGH, SM, INF
3. IC-37398X LT GEN RAJAN RAVINDRAN, VSM, INF
4. IC-39073H LT GEN SANJEEV KUMAR SHRIVASTAVA, ENGRS
5. IC-39130Y LT GEN RAJEEV CHOPRA, INF
6. IC-39140H LT GEN PARMINDER SINGH JAGGI, AAD
7. IC-39283H LT GEN KANWAL KUMAR, ARMY AVN
8. IC-39380A LT GEN PODALI SHANKAR RAJESHWAR, VSM, ARTY
9. IC-39436F LT GEN SATINDER KUMAR SAINI, YSM, VSM, INF
10. IC-39624H LT GEN PRADEEP M BALI, VSM, INF
11. IC-39675W LT GEN VIJAY SINGH, SM, VSM, INF
12. IC-39871W LT GEN SANTOSH KUMAR UPADHYA, SM, VSM, INF
13. IC-39898N LT GEN DEPINDER SINGH AHUJA, ENGRS
14. IC-40031H LT GEN SANJEEV KANAL, ARTY
15. IC-40101W LT GEN RAJNI KANT JAGGA, VSM, ARMD
16. IC-40235P LT GEN GOPAL R, SM, INF
17. IC-40753P LT GEN MANMOHAN JEET SINGH KAHLON, ARMD
18. V-000359F LT GEN AMOLOK JIT SINGH, VSM, RVC
19. MR-04142P LT GEN SANJEEV CHOPRA, VSM, AMC
20. IC-40795F MAJ GEN SANJEEV NARAIN, INF
21. IC-40873N MAJ GEN RAMACHANDRA NAGRAJ, VSM, SIGS
22. IC-41072Y MAJ GEN RAJEEV SIROHI, VSM, INF
23. IC-41166W MAJ GEN SATINDER SINGH, AAD
24. IC-41183W MAJ GEN SURESH CHANDRA MOHANTY, GUARDS
25. IC-41860H MAJ GEN SHANTANU DAYAL, SM, VSM, INF
26. IC-42004X MAJ GEN RANA PRATAP KALITA, SM, VSM, INF
27. IC-42389A MAJ GEN BAGGAVALLI SOMASHEKAR RAJU, YSM, INF
28. IC-45050X MAJ GEN TEJBIR SINGH, SM, INF
29. MR-05596P MAJ GEN MADHURI KANITKAR, VSM, AMC
30. IC-49650X BRIG GAMBHIR SINGH, GARH RIF

SHAURYA CHAKRA

1. IC-76619P MAJ AKHIL RAJ RV, GRENADIERS
2. IC-76020F CAPT ROHIT SHUKLA, RAJPUT 
3. SS-44764Y CAPT ABHINAV SHUKLA, PARA (SF) 
4. TA-42759Y CAPT PRADEEP SHOURY ARYA, INF BN (TA) PARA ATT WITH PARA (SF) 
5. 2691007Y HAV MUBARIK ALI, GRENADIERS 
6. 5047762N HAV RABINDRA THAPA, GR 
7. 13625628L NK NARENDER SINGH, PARA (SF) 
8. 9109592Y L/NK BADHER HUSSAIN, Inf 
9. 13630400Y PTR MANCHU, PARA (SF)

YUDH SEVA MEDAL

1. IC-42336F MAJ GEN AJAI KUMAR SINGH, SM, VSM, INF
2. IC-48579H BRIG CHARANJEET SINGH DEWGUN, GR
3. IC-48681L BRIG RAGHAVACHARI SANTHANA RAMAN, Inf
4. IC-49189M BRIG NAGENDRA SINGH, SM, Inf
5. IC-49500F BRIG ABHIJIT SURENDRA PENDHARKAR, ASSAM
6. IC-49588W BRIG MOHINDER PAL SINGH, SM, JAK RIF
7. IC-50080Y BRIG YASHPAL SINGH AHLAWAT, SM, MADRAS
8. IC-56428Y COL MOHINDER KUMAR SHAN, JAK LI
9. IC-60233L COL SHARANG PUN, GR
10. IC-60253Y COL KAMAL NAURIYAL, GRENADIERS

SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)

1. IC-56328N COL CHARANPREET SINGH, JAK RIF
2. IC-63279Y LT COL PRAVEEN MADHAV KHANZODE, INT 
3. IC-65402L LT COL ASHUTOSH SHARMA, GUARDS
4. IC-64017P MAJ TEJAS B CANDADE, PARA (SF)
5. IC-66253P MAJ RAJAT VYAS, SIKH LI
6. IC-67758X MAJ SAMEER BANSAL, PARA (SF)
7. IC-68144F MAJ NISHIT KASHYAP, PUNJAB
8. IC-70493K MAJ SANDEEP THAPA, ARTY
9. IC-71397F MAJ AKSHAY CHAUBEY, ASC 
10. IC-71931N MAJ SUKHWINDER SINGH, ASC
11. IC-72229P MAJ KARTIKEYA MANRAL, KUMAON
12. IC-72351L MAJ KULDEEP SINGH, RAJ RIF
13. IC-72759K MAJ SACHIN SINGH RAWAT, ASSAM
14. IC-73342W MAJ VIPUL NARAYAN, GRENADIERS 
15. IC-75017P MAJ SIDDHARTH KUMAR NAYAK, ARTY
16. IC-75423P MAJ NITESH KUMAR,PARA (SF)
17. IC-75775M MAJ K NAVEEN REDDY, ENGRS
18. IC-76440F MAJ TASOU PRAO, JAK RIF
19. IC-79137L MAJ NINGTHOUJAM MAKJAL SINGH GR
20. SS-43376P MAJ VARUN SINGH SLATHIA, SIKH LI 
21. SS-43634K MAJ VIKRAM SINGH, ASC
22. IC-75931L CAPT ABHISHEK KUMAR, MECH INF
23. IC-76434N CAPT NAVEEN SIGER, PARA (SF)
24. IC-76546N CAPT DAVINDER PAL SINGH, MAHAR
25. IC-77276W CAPT SAHIL BHARDWAJ, SIKH LI
26. IC-77396P CAPT DUSHYANT SINGH, ARMD
27. IC-77896M CAPT MANISH KUMAR SINGH, PARA (SF)
28. IC-78776A CAPT DIVYANSHU AHUJA, ENGRS
29. IC-80335H CAPT DUOMAI SHOZII PAOSHO, MADRAS 
30. SS-44861W CAPT KAUSTUBH PRAKASHKUMAR RANE, GARH RIF
31. SS-47582W CAPT PRANAY PANWAR, SIKH 
32. SS-47917H CAPT PRANSHU MAURYA, GR
33. SS-48221K CAPT PRABHAKAR DEV SINGH, DOGRA 
34. JC-431089M SUB SHASHI KUMAR, PUNJAB (POSTHUMOUS)
35. JC-460076X SUB RAMESH KUMAR, MARATHA LI
36. JC-471297K SUB JAIVIR SINGH, RAJ RIF
37. JC-612987A SUB MANISH GURUNG, GR
38. JC-413919P NB SUB ASHOK KUMAR, PARA (SF)
39. JC-414162K NB SUB SUNIL KUMAR, PARA (SF)
40. 2493054L HAV BALWANT SINGH, PARA (SF)
41. 2494144Y HAV VIJAY KUMAR, PARA (SF)
42. 2791742K HAV KARAMBHALKAR RAJARAM TUKARAM, MARATHA LI
43. 4079429M HAV AVTAR SINGH, GARH RIF
44. 4272189F HAV PRABHU SAHAY TIRKEY, BIHAR (POSTHUMOUS)
45. 4275229H HAV SHEW SHANKAR CHAUDHARI, BIHAR
46. 4366524Y HAV RONGSEN SASHI, PARA (SF)
47. 4569674K HAV VINOD KUMAR, MAHAR
48. 13622774A HAV LAXMAN SINGH, PARA (SF)
49. 13757526X HAV JALIL AHMED, JAK LI
50. 15561142H HAV BHAG SINGH, ENGRS
51. 2802845L NK JADHAV SANDIP SARJERAO, MARATHA LI (POSTHUMOUS)
52. 2895878A NK VIKASH KUMAR, RAJ RIF
53. 3002654L NK BALATTAR SINGH, RAJPUT
54. 4482042H NK JALOUR SINGH, SIKH LI
55. 5049253N NK BADRI BAHADUR GURUNG, GR 
56. 9423262K NK DEEPAK KUMAR, GR
57. 13625783M NK TILAK RAJ, PARA (SF)
58. 13764688L NK GAGANDEEP SINGH, JAK LI
59. 13767229X NK PURSHOTAM KUMAR, PARA (SF)
60. 13769548H NK VIRENDER SINGH, PARA (SF)
61. 15140481F NK BALAUR SINGH, ARTY
62. 2698814W L/NK NARESH KUMAR, GREN 
63. 2698879K L/NK BABU LAL, GREN
64. 13626753F L/NK RAJPATI SHAHNI, PARA (SF)
65. 14934920W L/NK AJAY SINGH PARIHAR, MECH INF
66. 15621397P L/NK VIPIN KUMAR, GUARDS
67. 2498961P SEP JASPAL SINGH, PUNJAB
68. 2502154A SEP SUKHRAJ SINGH, PUNJAB
69. 2813048A SEP KHARADE SANDIP KAILAS, MARATHA LI
70. 2813791P SEP MANE SAVAN BALKU, MARATHA LI (POSTHUMOUS)
71. 4376797P SEP NZAN LOTHA, ASSAM
72. 4377488Y SEP MILI KAMBU, ASSAM
73. 4379692W SEP RIKPE TAIPODIA, ASSAM
74. 4487592P SEP MANINDER SINGH, SIKH LI
75. 4491739X SEP JASPREET SINGH, SIKH LI (POSTHUMOUS)
76. 4584321F SEP GAWAI SUMEDH WAMAN, MAHAR (POSTHUMOUS)
77. 4585664K SEP ILAYARAJA P, MAHAR(POSTHUMOUS)
78. 9107784X SEP MOHD RAFIQ, JAK LI
79. 14705398M SEP THANGCHONLEN, ASSAM
80. 19002288P SEP AVTAR SINGH, SIKH 
81. 15233495N GNR BANWARI LAL, ARTY
82. 15234255H GNR SITA RAM, ARTY
83. 4088047K RFN YOGHESH SINGH, GARH RIF
84. 4094703W RFN SACHIN SINGH RANA, GARH RIF
85. 9112935P RFN JAWEED AHMAD SHEIKH, JAK LI 
86. 15503957Y SWR NARESH KUMAR SINGH, ARMD

SENA MEDAL (DISTINGUISHED)

1. IC-39106H MAJ GEN PANKAJ ARORA, ARTY (RETD)
2. IC-39457X MAJ GEN MOHANDEEP SINGH GHURA, VSM, INF
3. IC-39696M MAJ GEN JACOB THARAKAN CHACKO, AOC
4. IC-40804X MAJ GEN DIG VIJAY SETIA, VSM, ENGRS
5. IC-45022L MAJ GEN KANWAR MANMEET SINGH, ARTY
6. IC-42857P BRIG GURVIR SINGH KAHLON, PUNJAB, HQ IDS
7. IC-42919K BRIG MANOJ KUMAR, ARTY,
8. IC-43407K BRIG SURENDER PAVAMANI, ARTY, DDG EM(A)
9. IC-44057P BRIG RAJIV MANKOTIA, VSM, GR, DDG (PROC)
10. IC-45524N BRIG VISHWANATHAN VENKAT SUBRAMANIAM, MECH INF
11. IC-45577M BRIG GAUTAM GANGULY, VSM, GRENADIERS, HQ CTF
12. IC-47023M BRIG NAVNEET SINGH SARNA, ARTY, 
13. IC-48518L BRIG MOHIT MALHOTRA, ARMD
14. IC-48970A BRIG VIKRAM NAGPAL, GRENADIERS
15. IC-49151H BRIG RAJA CHAKRABORTY, BIHAR
16. IC-49472A BRIG SATISH DAHIYA, SIKH LI
17. IC-49480Y BRIG ROHIT CHOUDHARY, MARATHA LI
18. IC-49525N BRIG RAJESH SRIVASTAVA, ARTY, 
19. MR-05971P BRIG HARISHANKER AGRAWAL, VSM, AMC
20. IC-50785L COL ANIL JOHN ALFRED PEREIRA, SIGS 
21. IC-51018Y COL UMAID SINGH RATHORE, VSM, ARMY AVN
22. IC-53119L COL RAKESH NAIR, GR 
23. IC-53168N COL PRASHANT GANPATRAO SANKPAL, GARH RIF 
24. IC-54647F COL MELEVEETIL RAJIV MENON, MADRAS
25. IC-56330L COL VIKRAM JEET SINGH, KUMAON
26. IC-56441H COL IMON MUKHERJEE, MAHAR
27. IC-57836W COL BEERINDER SINGH SANDHU, MADRAS
28. IC-58679F COL SUVRAT CHATURVEDI, INT
29. IC-59088M COL VIJAY KUMAR SHARMA, GR
30. IC-59674P COL ASHOK PALIATH ACHUTHAN, SIKH LI
31. IC-60092F COL DHARMENDRA YADAV, SIKH LI
32. IC-64826P COL HARMANDEEP SINGH GREWAL, PUNJAB
33. IC-64859A COL VISHAL SINGH, JAK RIF
34. IC-56511W LT COL NAVEEN GAHLAWAT, INT 
35. IC-61399Y LT COL ANIL MEHTA, ARMY AVN
36. IC-62033N LT COL INDERJOT SINGH MANN, ARMD
37. IC-63479P LT COL RAJENDER SINGH JAMWAL, ARMY AVN
38. IC-70447P MAJ PRAVEEN KUMAR SINGH, ARMY AVN

BAR TO SENA MEDAL (DISTINGUISHED)

1. IC-45009F MAJ GEN SUKHDEEP SANGWAN, SM, INF
2. IC-58605M COL DHEERAJ KOTWAL, SM, SIKH LI

VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL

1. IC-37882K MAJ GEN DALIP SINGH, AOC
2. IC-39229P MAJ GEN DEVESH AGNIHOTRI, MECH INF
3. IC-39472M MAJ GEN JITENDRA KUMAR MARWAL, INF
4. IC-39812K MAJ GEN GIRISH KUMAR, ENGRS
5. IC-40757L MAJ GEN VIKAL SAHNI, SM, INF 
6. IC-41196N MAJ GEN SUDHAKAR JEE, INF
7. IC-41509F MAJ GEN KANWAL JEET SINGH DHILLON, YSM, INF
8. IC-41702N MAJ GEN ML MOHAN BABU, ARTY
9. IC-42079P MAJ GEN JITENDRA KUMAR SHUKLA, AAD
10. IC-43630N MAJ GEN SURESH MENON, SIGS
11. IC-45193X MAJ GEN ATUL KAUSHIK, SM, INF 
12. MR-04569Y MAJ GEN GAUTAM GANGULY, AMC
13. IC-40710A BRIG SURENDRA MEHTA, GR
14. IC-41927W BRIG SHIVENDER SINGH, YSM, GARH RIF
15. IC-42270W BRIG KAMAL KUMAR REPSWAL, SM, ENGRS
16. IC-42283N BRIG GURJEET SINGH KAMBO, ENGRS
17. IC-42782H BRIG DEEPAK OBHRAI, ARTY 
18. IC-42794X BRIG MV SUCHINDRA KUMAR, YSM, ASSAM
19. IC-43262K BRIG ARUN ANANTHANARAYAN, YSM, SM, GREN
20. IC-43395A BRIG MANOJ KUMAR BINDAL, AAD
21. IC-43843F BRIG ADISH YADAV, RAJ RIF
22. IC-43998W BRIG VIJAY RAMCHANDRA DESHMUKH, EME
23. IC-44055K BRIG VINOD MOHAN CHANDRAN, ARMD
24. IC-44082N BRIG ANEEL RAJ SINGH KAHLON, ARMD
25. IC-44474F BRIG RITU RAJ RAINA, SM, DOGRA
26. IC-45642F BRIG VENKATESHA REDDY G A, SC, JAT
27. IC-47002W BRIG JAGJIT SINGH MANGAT, ARMD
28. IC-47372W BRIG RAJ RISHI SHARMA, ARTY
29. IC-47657H BRIG MICHAEL AJ FERNANDEZ, ENGRS
30. IC-47994X BRIG J KAMESWARA RAO, ENGRS
31. IC-48044P BRIG SUKRITI SINGH DAHIYA, ENGRS 
32. IC-48539F BRIG ANIMISH SURESH RANADE, PARA
33. IC-48551H BRIG KISHAN PAL SINGH SIROHI, GUARDS
34. IC-48955N BRIG VIKRAM VARMA, ARMD
35. IC-49036H BRIG VIJAI SINGH RANA, MECH INF
36. IC-49048X BRIG RAKESH MANOCHA, SM, GRENADIERS
37. IC-49095P BRIG AMAR NATH KUKRETI, SM, GRENADIERS
38. IC-49496K BRIG PREET PAL SINGH, GR 
39. IC-49510L BRIG HITESH BHALLA, SC**, SM, MARATHA LI
40. IC-49794A BRIG KULDIP PATHAK, SM, MADRAS
41. MR-05069N BRIG SITARAM GHOSH, AMC
42. MR-05521X BRIG KAVITA SAHAI, AMC
43. IC-51475M COL AMIT TALWAR, ARMD
44. IC-52570L COL HARBINDER SINGH BRAR, SIKH
45. IC-52865F COL HEMENDRA BHANDARI, SIKH
46. IC-52892L COL KARAN SINGH, RAJPUT
47. IC-53563F COL PADAM DEV THAKUR, GARH RIF
48. IC-53587L COL VIJAY NARAYAN SHUKLA, INT
49. IC-54165M COL NAVNEET BAKSHI, SM, MARATHA LI
50. IC-54737H COL ALOK SRIVASTAVA, ASC
51. IC-54874F COL ANIL DEV SWAMI, JAK RIF
52. IC-55212L COL NALINI RANJAN PANDEY, ARTY
53. IC-55867X COL SUNIL BHATT, GR
54. IC-56345N COL HIMANSHU RAWAT, GR
55. IC-57387M COL RISHI YADAVA, AOC
56. IC-57666X COL AJAY KUMAR SHARMA, ARTY
57. IC-57942P COL PRAVIN CHANDRA JOSHI, ARTY
58. IC-58466N COL KULWANT SINGH KUHAD, INT
59. IC-58675L COL RAMNATH SHANKAR, SIKH LI
60. IC-59159H COL MANEESH PARTHSARTHY, GR
61. IC-59464P COL DEEPANKAR DAS, PUNJAB
62. IC-59605Y COL GURKIRAN PAL SINGH, GARH RIF
63. IC-59684Y COL SUDIP MAJEE, SM, BIHAR REGT
64. IC-59898P COL LITTON DHAR, GR 
65. IC-60970M COL V SURESH KUMAR, BIHAR
66. MR-06245M COL ALOK BHALLA, AMC
67. IC-60747H LT COL S VENGATESAN, SIGS
68. MR-07286H LT COL RISHI DHILLAN, AMC
69. NR-19914Y LT COL SUSHMA THOMAS, MNS
70. SL-04681L LT COL NARESH KUMAR, GEN SER
71. IC-66933P MAJ ANUJ SAMAIYA, INT
72. TA-42967K CAPT NEIL SHAJI, INF BN (TA) PARA ATT WITH PARA (SF)
73. TJ-5363N SUB SHEIKH TAHIR, INF BN (TA) JAK LI
74. JC-561673N NB SUB SHOBHA KANT ROY, BIHAR REGT
75. JC-811984K NB SUB RAVINDER SINGH, INT

BAR TO VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL

1. IC-48507Y BRIG DUNDAYYA MALLIKARJUN PURVIMATH, VSM, ENGRS

MENTION-IN-DESPATCHES

OPERATION MEGHDOOT

1. IC-68691W MAJ PRASHANT DHUKIA, BIHAR

OPERATION RAKSHAK 

1. IC-63962Y LT COL PATIL SHREE VIKAS, INT
2. SS-44871A MAJ SUSHANT KASHYAP, ARMD
3. SS-46035P MAJ VIKAS TYAGI, INT
4. IC-70856H MAJ RAJIV KUMAR, ARTY 
5. IC-73066Y MAJ SIDDHARTHDEO SHARMA, ENGRS
6. IC-73396X MAJ PRANIT SINGH, RAJPUT
7. IC-76405Y MAJ AMAN KUMAR MALIK, SIGS
8. IC-76850X MAJ VINAY KUMAR, ARTY
9. SS-43753A MAJ AMIT KUMAR MISHRA, RAJPUT
10. SL-04897M MAJ SHIV KUMAR, ARTY 
11. SS-45964F CAPT PANKAJ BEHL, ARMD
12. JC-431198Y SUB RANJIV KUMAR, PUNJAB
13. JC-603225L NB SUB HARI KAJI GURUNG, GR
14. 14433932W RHM AJIT KUMAR, ARTY
15. 1494768P HAV GOVINDA BAHADUR KHARKA, ENGRS
16. 3402382K HAV MANJIT SINGH, SIKH
17. 3405930F NK GURPREET SINGH, SIKH 
18. 3408483N NK JASMINDER SINGH, SIKH 
19. 4194971P NK ANAND SINGH, KUMAON
20. 4571905N NK RAMESH ORAON, MAHAR
21. 5048631P NK KAYAR SINGH SARU, GR
22. 5757743H NK BAL BAHADUR PARIYAR, GR
23. 13624678K NK LAL SINGH, PARA (SF)
24. 13769292L NK SUNIL KUMAR, PARA (SF)
25. 5049519P NK DHAN BAHADUR DHENGA, GR
26. 2707505X SEP SUKHVINDER SINGH, GRENADIERS
27. 4287089N SEP PRAFULA KUMAR MALLICK, BIHAR
28. 4487553W SEP SHAMSHER SINGH, SIKH LI
29. 4488153W SEP GURPREET SINGH, SIKH LI
30. 20002892K SEP PRINCE JASWAL, DOGRA
31. 4096814M RFN KUSHAL SINGH, GARH RIF
32. 16020643F RFN PRAVANDH SINGH TOMAR, RAJ RIF
33. 4092077Y PTR LAXMAN SINGH RAWAT, PARA (SF)

Corporal JP Nirala

New Delhi, January 25

President Ram Nath Kovind will tomorrow present Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime military decoration, posthumously to Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, a Garud commando of the Indian Air Force who died fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir last year. Kirti Chakra has been awarded to Major Vijayant Bisht,  who led an ambush in Chorgali forest of Kashmir’ s Uri district, killed two terrorists and saved the life of another soldier.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Corporal Nirala was part of an offensive launched by the Garud detachment and a Rashtriya Rifles battalion in Chanderger village of Bandipora district on November 18.The Garud detachment laid a close quarter ambush around the house where the terrorists were tipped to be hiding. Nirala positioned himself close to the approach of the hideout. While the detachment laid in wait, six terrorists rushed out, shooting and lobbing grenades. Nirala retaliated, gunning down two top Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists and injuring two others. He also received gunshot wounds. While being critically injured, Nirala continued retaliatory fire and succumbed to his injuries. All six terrorists were killed.Meanwhile, two CRPF CoBRA commandos — Assistant Commandant Vikash Jakhar and SI Riyaz Alam Ansari — have been selected, besides 12 others, for the Shaurya Chakra for an anti-Naxal operation in Jharkhand that led to the killing of six Maoist cadres in 2016. — Agencies

New Delhi, January 23

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid homage to freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose on his 121st birth anniversary.“He remains one of our most beloved national heroes and an icon of India’s freedom struggle,” Kovind tweeted.

The Prime Minister, who is in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, tweeted a video dedication for the freedom fighter along with a message.“The valour of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose makes every Indian proud. We bow to this great personality on his Jayanti (birth anniversary),” he wrote.

 Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “We remember Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, a patriot, who inspires each of us even today. This verse, from the immortal INA (Indian National Army) marching song is as relevant today as it was then:  March, March on forward. Singing songs of happiness as you go. This life belongs to our motherland. Lay it down for the motherland.” IANS

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa. — @IAF_MCC/Twitter

Jaipur, January 20

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa on Saturday undertook two sorties in a MiG-21 aircraft during his three-day visit to the Jaisalmer Air Force station in Rajasthan.The Indian Air Force chief visited various operational as well as welfare facilities, defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha said.During his interaction with station personnel, he exhorted them to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and the need to be vigilant, with regards to security of assets and information.Dhanoa reached the Jaisalmer Air Force Station on January 18 where he was received by station commander Group Captain M Bandopadhyay.He was briefed on the operational status of the station, Ojha said in a release. — PTI