Galwan Valley Martyrs Likely To Be Awarded Wartime Gallantry Medals On Republic Day

Galwan Valley Martyrs: The long list of personnel recommended for the gallantry awards at this Republic Day include 16 Bihar Commanding Officer Colonel Santosh Babu.

Clockwise fom left, Colonel Santosh Babu, Sepoy Ojha and Havildar Palani, who were martyred during a clash with Chinese troops in Ladkah on Monday night, June 15, 2020. (PTI Photo)

Brave hearts of the Indian armed forces who were martyred during Galwan valley clash have been recommended for war-time gallantry awards on this Republic Day. 16 Bihar Commanding Officer Colonel B Santosh Babu and 19 other Army men were martyred in Galwan Valley, Eastern Ladakh during clash against Chinese Troops in June 2019. According to sources, a long list of personnel have been recommended for the war-time gallantry awards. "Some of the Army personnel including Col Babu who displayed extreme courage during the Galwan clash are expected to be honoured on Republic Day," a source told news agency PTI. The decision comes from the top command of the Army, which has recommended to award the personnel posthumously with wartime gallantry awards rather than peace time gallantry awards. The wartime Chakra series awards include the highest Paramvir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, and Vir Chakra. Meanwhile, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra are the peacetime highest gallantry awards. The strike at the Galwan valley took place on June 15 last year, when the border issues with China were starting to heat up, Indian troops led by Colonel Babu took on the Chinese troops near the patrolling point 14 areas. READ | PM Modi Cautions Against 'Out-Of-Turn' COVID Vaccination For Public Representatives In the fierce clash, the Indian Army lost 20 troops while the Chinese side had suffered causalities. The clash also led to the hardening of at stance by India which has now allowed troops to use weapons during patrolling after the use of unorthodox weapons by Chinese troops. Despite harsh weather conditions, both India and China have deployed thousands of troops at the LAC. India has deployed almost all its frontline fighter aircraft at airbases near the Ladakh sector. Even though both sides have tried to come down on a mutual consensus by arranging a number of diplomatic and military level talks but no breakthrough has been achieved.