'Not 100% Satisfied With Maha Vir Chakra': Galwan Hero Col Santosh Babu's Father

Col Santosh Babu on the occasion of Republic Day, was honoured posthumously with Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second-highest military award for acts of conspicuous gallantry during a fight with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh in June 2020.

Galwan Valley martyr Col Santosh Babu

The father of late Colonel Santosh Babu said he was "not 100 per cent satisfied" with the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously awarded to his son who was martyred during a fight with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh in June 2020. He should have been honoured with the Param Vir Chakra for his acts of gallantry against the Chinese attack. 

News agency PTI quoted Babu's father B Upendra saying as "It is not that I am unhappy. But I am not 100 per cent satisfied (with the award of Mahavir Chakra). There is scope for honouring him in a better way. But my opinion is that Santosh Babu should have been named for the highest military award Param Vir Chakra for the gallantry he displayed while discharging his duties." 

Col Santosh Babu on the occasion of Republic Day, was honoured posthumously with Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second-highest military award for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy. 

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. In the fierce clash, the Indian Army lost 20 troops while the Chinese side had suffered several causalities.

Colonel Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment, was among 20 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in the fierce hand-to-hand combat. 

The clash 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.