M A I N   N E W S

Major who died saving 10 colleagues in Kabul gets Ashok Chakra

New Delhi, August 14
Major Laishram Jyotin Singh, who with bare hands fought with an armed terrorist and saved 10 colleagues during an attack on Indians in Kabul in February, has been posthumously given the Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award.

The officer, from the Army Medical Corps, engaged the terrorist who struck on February 26 at a hotel, which housed members of Indian Medical Mission.

The 37-year-old from Manipur showed exemplary courage when a heavily-armed terrorist, after detonating an explosives-laden vehicle and killing three guards, entered the hotel building to kill any survivors.

As the terrorist was firing from his AK-47 rifle and lobbing grenades, the officer charged at him with bare hands and pinned him down.

The Major continued to grapple with armed terrorist and did not let him go till the terrorist panicked and detonated the explosives on his suicide vest, resulting in the instantaneous death of the two. Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry award, has been given to Captain Davinder Singh Jass (posthumously) and Chhattisgarh Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Choubey.

Jass was given the award for counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir while Chaubey will receive it for anti-Naxal operations in Chattisgarh.

Besides the Ashok Chakra and two Kirti Chakras, 112 gallantry awards, including two Bar to Shaurya Chakras, nineteen Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 80 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and five Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) have been given to armed forces and police personnel. — PTI

Roll of honour

Captain Davinder Singh Jass and Chhattisgarh Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Choubey have been honoured with Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry award. Jass has been given the award posthumously for counter-terrorist operations in J&K while Chaubey will receive it for anti-Naxal operations. Two Kirti Chakras, 112 gallantry awards, including two Bar to Shaurya Chakras, 19 Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 80 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and five Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) have also been given.