Gurdaspur martyr gets top medal

New Delhi: Eight personnel of the 21 Para Regiment, which had undertaken a daring operation just inside Myanmar territory following the Manipur ambush, were among 67 for whom President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday approved Gallantry awards.

 

Commandant Chandra Shekhar Joshi, commander of Coast Guard ship Rajratan, which was involved in an operation that led to sinking of a Pakistani boat earlier this year, was also among those who won a gallantry award.

 

The operation had run into controversy after Coast Guard DIG B.K. Loshali claimed that he had ordered the blowing up of the Pakistani boat, contrary to government’s claims that the Pakistani crew had set the boat on fire.

 

Superintendent of Police Baljit Singh who laid down his life fighting heavily-armed terrorists from Pakistan in Gurdaspur, is among three policemen of Punjab chosen for the top police medal. His  colleagues, inspector Balbir Singh and head constable Tara Singh, have also been accorded the top bravery medal.