Two Northeast Officers Among Top Gallantry Award Winners This Independence Day

Two distinguished military officers from India’s Northeast have been honoured with the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry awards

Guwahati: Two distinguished military officers from India’s Northeast have been honoured with the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry awards, recognising their exceptional bravery in high-risk operations.

Captain Lalrinawa Sailo of the 4 Para (Special Forces), hailing from Mizoram, has been awarded the Kirti Chakra, while Major Bhargav Kalita of the Kumaon Regiment, 50 Rashtriya Rifles, from Assam will receive the Shaurya Chakra. Both officers played decisive roles in operations against hostile elements along sensitive border zones.

The Union Government on Thursday announced 127 Gallantry Awards and 40 Distinguished Service Awards for personnel of the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces. President Droupadi Murmu has approved the honours, which include:

• 4 Kirti Chakras

• 15 Vir Chakras

• 16 Shaurya Chakras

• 2 Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry)

• 58 Sena Medals (Gallantry)

• 6 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry)

• 26 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry)

• 7 Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals

• 9 Uttam Yudh Seva Medals

• 24 Yudh Seva Medals

Additionally, 290 Mention-in-Despatches have been awarded to 115 Army personnel, 5 Navy officers, 167 Air Force personnel, and 3 members of the Border Roads Development Board.

Historic First for Air Force Officers in Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal

For the first time, the prestigious Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal has been awarded to Air Force officers for their contribution to Operation Sindoor. The recipients include:

• Lt Gen Pratik Sharma – GOC-in-C Northern Command

• Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai – DGMO

• Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh (Retd) – FOC-in-C Western Naval Command

• Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari – VCAS

• Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor – AOC-in-C Southern Air Command

• Air Marshal Jeetandra Mishra – AOC-in-C Western Air Command

• Air Marshal A.K. Bharti – DG, Air Ops

Operation Sindoor: Precision Strikes Across Borders

Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 in retaliation to the Pahalgam massacre, was a daring cross-border military offensive. The operation involved precision air strikes on nine terror facilities deep inside Pakistan, eliminating over 100 militants. Pakistan retaliated with drone attacks, which were successfully neutralised by India’s air defence systems.

On May 10, Indian forces launched a second wave, targeting 11 strategic military and radar installations, inflicting significant damage and forcing Pakistan to seek a ceasefire.

Air Force Chief Air Marshal A.P. Singh revealed that six Pakistani fighter jets were shot down and multiple F-16s were damaged during the mission. A total of 36 Air Force personnel involved in Operation Sindoor have been honoured for their unmatched courage and operational excellence.

This year’s awards not only celebrate individual acts of valour but also mark a historic chapter in India’s military history, with the Northeast once again contributing some of its finest warriors to the nation’s defence.