President confers gallantry awards

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday conferred gallantry awards, including two Kirti Chakras and eleven Shaurya Chakras, on armed forces and security personnel.

Five of the 11 Shaurya Chakras - the third highest peacetime decoration - were given posthumously. The medals are generally awarded for counter-insurgency operations and actions against the enemy during peace-time.

The awardees included Lt.Col. Sankalp Kumar, who was killed in recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Constable Mushtaq Ahmad of Jammu and Kashmir Police who was killed in a militant attack in Shopian district, and Inspector Manjeet Singh of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, for exceptional show of bravery in countering a fidayeen attack at the Consulate General of India in Afghanistan.

The president also conferred fourteen Param Vishisht Seva Medals, three Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medals and twenty six Ati Vishisht Seva Medals to senior officers of the armed forces for distinguished service of an exceptional order.