In a first, two Special Operation Group (SOG) Commandos from Odisha- Sudhir Kumar Tudu and Debasis Sethy were awarded the 'Shaurya Chakra' (posthumously) by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2022 at New Delhi on Tuesday.
The awards were received by the martyred jawans' parents.
Tudu and Sethy had sacrificed their lives during an anti-Maoist operation in Odisha’s Kalahandi district on 9 September 2020.
Five suspected Maoists were eliminated in the anti-Maoist operation in which Tudu (28) and Sethy (27) had attained martyrdom.
"I am really proud of my brother. His supreme sacrifice will be always remembered," said Sunaram Tudu, martyr Sudhir.
"He (Debasis) is the pride of Odisha, our village. He is a brave child of the soil. The entire State will feel proud of him as he is conferred with the prestigious Shaurya Chakra award today," said Debasis's relative.
Among others, Group Captain Varun Singh, Head Constable of 118 CRPF, Gund (J&K), Kuldeep Kumar Urawan, Head Constable Ajeet Singh of 204 COBRA CRPF were awarded the prestigious award (Posthumously) for their supreme sacrifices.