Sepoy Jagdish Chand, who grappled with a terrorist and killed him before being shot down during the Pathankot Air air base attack this month was among those who have been conferred gallantry award by President Pranab Mukherjee on the eve of the 67th Republic Day Celebrations.
Mukherjee has approved the award of one Ashok Chakra, two Kirti Chakras and eight Shaurya Chakras to the Indian Army personnel.
The Navy got four gallantry awards while the Indian Air Force got two.
Lance Naik Mohan Nath Goswami of 9 Para (Special Force) was awarded Ashok Chakra (Posthumous) for his bravery in fighting with terrorists on the intervening night of September 2/3 last year in Haphruda forest at Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kirti Chakra was awarded to Subedar Mahendra Singh of 9 Para for the Kupwara encounter and Sepoy Chand (Posthumous) of 546 DSC Platoon.
Chand's citation read, unmindful of his own safety ran after the closest terrorist, chased and overpowered a terrorist.
He snatched the terrorist's weapon to shoot him dead. In the process two more terrorists in vicinity opened fire on Chand killing him on the spot.
"The great presence of mind, unmatched bravery and valour by Sepoy Jagdish Chand minimised further loss of lives and gave time for the quick reaction teams in the vicinity to react. Sepoy Jagdish Chand's actions was also a setback to the terrorists," the citation read.
Colonel Santosh, who was killed in an encounter in general area Manigah Forest of Kupwara district on November 17 last year was awarded Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous).
Major Anurag Kumar, who was leading a helicopter inserted 9 Para team in search and destroy operations in Lidder Panzal at Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on August 26/27 last year was also awarded Shaurya Chakra.
In total, there were eight Shaurya Chakra including to Naik Satish Kumar (Posthumous) and Sepoy Dharma Ram (Posthumous).
