Army's Neeraj Kumar Singh selected for Ashok Chakra (posthumous)

Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh of the army has been selected for this year's Ashok Chakra (posthumous), the highest peace time gallantry award, for his act of bravery in tackling terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Three others won Kirti Chakra, second highest peace time gallantry award while 12 won the Shaurya Chakra, including Lt. Col Sankalp Kumar (posthumous) who was killed in December last thwarting a militart attack in Uri just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to address an election rally in the Valley.
Naik Neeraj Singh while leading a search operation in general area Gurdaji of Kupwara district in J and K on August 24, 2014 came under heavy fire from terrorists which hit one of his colleagues.

With utter disregard for his personal safety, he crawled and extricated his colleague. A terrorist threw grenades and brought heavy fire on Singh but in a very daring act, he inched closer to the terrorist and shot him dead, an official release said here today.
Simultaneously, he was attacked by another terrorist resulting in dropping of his rifle and was shot in the chest. Despite grievous injuries, displaying unparalleled courage, he pounced on the terrorist, snatched his weapon and killed him in hand-to-hand combat.
He refused to be evacuated till he became unconscious and was later evacuated but he succumbed to his injuries.

The Kirti Chakra awardees are Captain Jaidev, Subedar Kosh Bahadur Gurung and Subedar Ajay Vardhan (posthumous).
The President has approved awards of 374 gallantry and other defence decorations to armed forces personnel and others on the eve of the 66th Republic Day celebrations, the release said.