New Delhi .

President Draupadi Murmu on Thursday approved gallantry awards for 80 armed forces personnel, including 12 posthumously, ahead of the 75th Republic Day.

These awards include six Kirti Chakras (three posthumously); 16 Shaurya Chakras (two posthumous); 53 Sena Medals (seven posthumous); Includes one Nau Sena Medal (Gallantry) and four Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).

The Defense Ministry on Thursday said that three of the Kirti Chakras and two of the Shaurya Chakras will be awarded posthumously. These awards are equivalent to wartime Mahavir Chakra and Vir Chakra respectively.

The ministry said the Kirti Chakra awardees include Major Dipendra Vikram Basnet (4 Sikh), Major Digvijay Singh Rawat (21 Para-Special Forces), Captain Anshuman Singh (Army Medical Corps, 26 Punjab - posthumously), Havildar Pawan Kumar Yadav (21 Mahar), Havildar Abdul Majid (9 Para-Special Forces) (posthumously) and Sep Pawan Kumar (Grenadiers, 55 Rashtriya Rifles - posthumously).

According to the Defense Ministry, Major Basnet led an operation and killed hardcore terrorists along the Line of Control. He was the commander of an ambush team deployed in the Karen sector of Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir in June 2023. The ambush was planned following intelligence inputs about possible infiltration by a group of five terrorists.

Basnet's surveillance team spotted the terrorists and gave them early warning. Basnet's citation read: "Showing excellent judgment in a high-pressure situation, he quickly redeployed his troops to engage the terrorists.

The key terrorist fired indiscriminately and threw grenades at the Major and his team. Realizing the grave threat to his men, without regard for his own safety, the officer crawled towards the terrorist amidst heavy fire and killed him at close range.

In this gunfight, he encountered another terrorist. He engaged the terrorist in fierce hand-to-hand combat and killed him with his combat knife.

Major Rawat's citation said the officer displayed remarkable combat skills and tactically used his squad to engage terrorists during an operation in Manipur in early 2023.

During another operation last year, the officer had received intelligence about infiltration by valley-based insurgent groups in a sensitive area.

They established a close surveillance grid and successfully captured three senior cadres by defeating them in close combat.

Shaurya Chakra Award Winner

Major Maneo Francis PF (21 Para-Special Forces), Major Amandeep Jakhar (4 Sikhs), Captain MV Pranjal (Signals, 63 Rashtriya Rifles - posthumous), Captain Akshat Upadhyay (20 Jat), Naib Subedar Baria Sanjay Kumar Bhamar Singh (21 Mahar), Havildar Sanjay Kumar (9 Assam Rifles), Rifleman Alok Rao (18 Assam Rifles - posthumous) and Parshotam Kumar (Civilian C/O 63 Rashtriya Rifles), Lieutenant Bimal Ranjan Behera (Navy), Wing Commander Shailesh Singh (Air Force) ), Flight Lieutenant Hrishikesh Jayan Karuthedath (Air Force), DSP Mohan Lal (Jammu and Kashmir Police), ASI Amit Raina (Jammu and Kashmir Police), SI Faroz Ahmed Dar (Jammu and Kashmir Police) and Constable Varun Singh (Jammu and Kashmir Police) are involved. The President also approved 311 defense decorations for the armed forces and other personnel.