One posthumous Ashok Chakra winner among 365 defence awardees

Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami has been posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, the government said on Monday as it announced 365 gallantry and other defence decorations for armed force personnel and others on the 67th Republic Day.

According to an official release, this year's awards include one Ashoka Chakra, four Kirti Chakras, 11 Shaurya Chakras, one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 48 Sena Medal (Gallantry), four Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), two Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 29 Param Vishisht Seva Medal, five Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, four Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 49 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 20 Yudh Seva Medal, three Bar to Sena Medal (devotion to duty), 37 Sena Medal (devotion to duty), eight Nao Sena Medal (devotion to duty), 16 Vayu Sena Medal (devotion to duty), 5 Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal and 118 Vishisht Seva Medal.

From the Army, the Kirti Chakra awardees include Subedar Mahendra Singh of 9 Para (special force) and Sepoy Jagdish Chand (posthumous), 546 DSC platoon. The Shaurya Chakra awardees include Colonel Santosh Yashwant Mahadik (posthumous) of 41 Rashtriya Rifle (Para); Major Praphul Kumar Bhardwaj 12 Para (special force); Major Anurag Kumar, 9 Para (special force); Major Sandip Yadav, 55 Rashtriya Rifle (armed); Lieutenant Harjinder Singh, 3 Kumaon; Naik Satish Kumar (posthumous), 21 Rashtriya Rifle (Guards); Naik Kheem Singh Mehra, 21 Kumaon and Sepoy Dharma Ram (posthumous), 1 Rashtriya Rifle (Mahar).

The Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) has been awarded to Wing Commander Rajiv Dobhal and Wing Commander Nirmal Kumar Bakshi.