President Mukherjee presents gallantry awards to defence personnel

President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday presented the Gallantry Awards and the Distinguished Service Decorations to defence personnel and martyrs posthumously at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

Sepoy Jagdish Chand who made the supreme sacrifice during terror attack at Pathankot Air Base was awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously.

Subedar Mahendra Singh who displayed exemplary leadership despite grievous injury was also awarded Kirti Chakra.

Jammu and Kashmir Police Head Constable Mohammed Shafi Sheikh and Constable Reyaz Ahmed Lone who made supreme sacrifice on the line of duty while fighting terrorists were awarded Shaurya Chakra posthumously.

Second in Command of CRPF 7th Batallion Hira Kumar Jha who made supreme sacrifice fighting naxals in Jamui District of Bihar was also awarded Shaurya Chakra.

Commander Milind Mokashi who saved more than 16 hundred persons from war torn Yemen was also presented with Shaurya Chakra.

Sixteen personnel were awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal which included Vice Chief Naval Staff Vice Admiral P Murugesan and Twenty Four Personnel were awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, and the three services Chiefs were present in the ceremony.