16 BSF jawans who showed extraordinary bravery in Operation Sindoor have been awarded the gallantry medal. These jawans foiled enemy drone attacks, destroyed surveillance cameras and took risks in supplying ammunition. This honor is a recognition of the courage and sacrifice of these brave soldiers on the India-Pakistan border.
Sixteen personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) have been awarded gallantry medals for displaying “unparalleled valour” and “unparalleled bravery” during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. Those who were awarded the gallantry award include Sub Inspector Vyas Dev, Constable Suddi Rabha, Abhishek Srivastava, Sahayak, Senanayak, and Constable Bhupendra Bajpai.
The Gallantry Medal (GM) for these soldiers was announced by the central government on the eve of the 79th Independence Day. Some of these soldiers destroyed enemy surveillance cameras while others foiled drone attacks.
The paramilitary force is tasked with guarding the 2,290-km-long India-Pakistan International Border (IB), besides the Line of Control (LoC), under the operational control of the Army on the western side of the country.
Gallantry awards to 16 brave border guards
This Independence Day, 16 brave border guards (Sima Praharis) are being awarded gallantry medals for their indomitable bravery and unparalleled valour and determination during Operation Sindoor. "These medals are a testimony to the nation's faith and trust in India's first line of defence: the Border Security Force," the BSF said in a social media post.
Under Operation Sindoor, carried out by the three defence forces along the border along with the BSF, India targeted terrorist and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from May 7 to 10 to avenge the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in the attack. During the operation, two BSF personnel were martyred, while seven were injured.
Sub-inspector Vyas Dev, who lost his left leg when a Pakistani mortar shell hit his border post, along with constable Suddi Rabha, undertook the “risky” mission of supplying ammunition to the troops deployed at the front during the operation.
The soldiers showed indomitable courage during Operation Sindoor
Dev's citation said he "received life-threatening injuries but remained conscious, steadied himself and bravely carried on with his given task, inspiring his fellow soldiers and displaying indomitable courage." Rabha stood "shoulder to shoulder" with his commander (Dev) and refused to bow down despite serious injuries.
Another unit commanded by under-probation Assistant Commandant Abhishek Srivastava was deployed at the highly sensitive border post located just 200 metres from the international border at Kharkola in Jammu.
On May 10, Srivastava, along with his soldiers – Head Constable Brij Mohan Singh and Constables Depeshwar Barman, Bhupendra Bajpai, Rajan Kumar and Basavaraj Shivappa Sunakada – encountered and neutralised a swarm of Pakistani drones, but a UAV dropped a mortar shell on their bunker. Sub-Inspector Mohammad Imtiyaz and Constable Deepak Chingakham were martyred in the action. They are expected to be awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry posthumously.
Another unit led by Deputy Commandant Ravindra Rathore, Inspector Devi Lal, Head Constable Sahib Singh and Constable Kanwar Singh displayed “exceptional courage” and “operational skill” under tremendous pressure and saved the life of a fellow jawan “whose life was in danger”.
Pakistan got hit for sixes on the border
Assistant Sub-Inspector Udai Veer Singh was posted at the Jabowal border outpost in Jammu and destroyed a Pakistani surveillance camera amid “intense” enemy fire on his position. His citation said that despite suffering a life-threatening shrapnel wound to his upper lip, Singh refused to evacuate and destroyed a Pakistani “heavy machine gun nest (post)”.
It said, “Their actions ensured uninterrupted dominance of the Indian side and inspired fellow soldiers.” ASI Rajappa BT and Constable Manohar Xalxo carried out a “high-risk” mission at Border Outpost Karotana Khurd in Jammu on May 10 when the said post faced a “critical shortage” of automatic grenade launcher ammunition.
While loading ammunition, a mortar shell fell on the magazine and both were seriously injured, but they completed their task. According to the citation, Assistant Commandant Alok Negi, along with his two soldiers, fired “continuously and accurately” mortar fire on enemy positions for 48 hours and their “fearless” conduct ensured zero casualties and maintained operational dominance.
The government also announced gallantry medals for other police and central armed police force personnel who carried out other operations. These include 128 medals for the Jammu and Kashmir Police, 20 for the CRPF and 14 for the Chhattisgarh Police.
