With terror perpetrators striking the country with impunity all through 2008 and scores of security personnel making the supreme sacrifice while combating the menace, this Republic Day the nation’s highest peacetime gallantry award –Ashok Chakra - will be conferred upon an unprecedented 11 individuals.
Until now, the highest number of Ashok Chakra awards in a single year has been three, conferred upon security personnel who died fighting militants during the attack on Parliament in December, 2001.
The list of recipients include four Mumbai policemen and two NSG commandos who died in the line of duty during the 26/11 Mumbai Terror strikes and Delhi Police Inspector MC Sharma, who died in the Batla House shootout.
Though, the government had short-listed eight names for the top honour this year but the number grew to a never-before 11 after interventions at the highest level.
The list is loaded with connotation and presents a clear reflection of governmental efforts to allay aspersions cast over the deaths and the circumstances under which some on the list were killed.
Several political parties, including UPA allies, had raised doubts over the Batla House encounter that resulted in the death of top Delhi cop MC Sharma.
A key UPA minister, AR Antulay, had raised doubts over the killing of Mumbai’s key anti-terror official – Hemant Karkare, while suggesting that they may have been a victim of conspiracy.
The names on the final list are:
•M C Sharma: Delhi Police Inspector who died in the Batla House shootout.
•ASI Tukaram Omble: Took the bullets but held on to terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab’s gun, leading to his capture.
•Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan: Died while flushing out terrorists at the Taj Hotel.
•Hav Gajinder Singh: Killed in the Nariman House operation. Was the first to enter the building.
•Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar: Killed while chasing terrorists near Cama Hospital.
•Col Jojan Thomas: CO of 45 RR, he died fighting militants in Kupwara. 12 militants were killed in the encounter.
•Hav Bahadur Singh: He was part of a counter-insurgency operation last year.
•R P Diengdoh: Meghalaya Police DSP who died while leading an operation against militants.
•Pramod Kumar Satapathy: Asst Commandant of Orissa’s Special Operation Group who died battling Naxalites.
Until now, the highest number of Ashok Chakra awards in a single year has been three, conferred upon security personnel who died fighting militants during the attack on Parliament in December, 2001.
The list of recipients include four Mumbai policemen and two NSG commandos who died in the line of duty during the 26/11 Mumbai Terror strikes and Delhi Police Inspector MC Sharma, who died in the Batla House shootout.
Though, the government had short-listed eight names for the top honour this year but the number grew to a never-before 11 after interventions at the highest level.
The list is loaded with connotation and presents a clear reflection of governmental efforts to allay aspersions cast over the deaths and the circumstances under which some on the list were killed.
Several political parties, including UPA allies, had raised doubts over the Batla House encounter that resulted in the death of top Delhi cop MC Sharma.
A key UPA minister, AR Antulay, had raised doubts over the killing of Mumbai’s key anti-terror official – Hemant Karkare, while suggesting that they may have been a victim of conspiracy.
The names on the final list are:
•M C Sharma: Delhi Police Inspector who died in the Batla House shootout.
•ASI Tukaram Omble: Took the bullets but held on to terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab’s gun, leading to his capture.
•Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan: Died while flushing out terrorists at the Taj Hotel.
•Hav Gajinder Singh: Killed in the Nariman House operation. Was the first to enter the building.
•Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar: Killed while chasing terrorists near Cama Hospital.
•Col Jojan Thomas: CO of 45 RR, he died fighting militants in Kupwara. 12 militants were killed in the encounter.
•Hav Bahadur Singh: He was part of a counter-insurgency operation last year.
•R P Diengdoh: Meghalaya Police DSP who died while leading an operation against militants.
•Pramod Kumar Satapathy: Asst Commandant of Orissa’s Special Operation Group who died battling Naxalites.
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