President Ram Nath Kovind presents Gallantry Awards and Distinguished Service Decorations - Pics

NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday presented Gallantry Awards and Distinguished Service Decorations at the Defence Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Defence Nirmala Sitharaman were also present at the event.

Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra were posthumously conferred on Major David Manlun and Major Satish Dahiya, who lost their lives while fighting with militants in Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir. Malun lost his life in a fight with militants in northern Nagaland, but eliminated three of them before succumbing to his injuries.

#PresidentKovind presents Shaurya Chakra to Major Satish Dahiya (Posthumous), Army Service Corps, 30th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles. Major Dahiya displayed his inspirational leadership and gallantry throughout the operation to kill three militants in Bandipura till his martyrdom pic.twitter.com/dGbRcBZ7Sw

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

#PresidentKovind presents Kirti Chakra to Major David Manlun (Posthumous) of the Naga Regiment, 164 Infantry Battalion. Major Manlun displayed conspicuous bravery and leadership of the highest order and made supreme sacrifice in fighting with the militants in Nagaland pic.twitter.com/3J4bL7YkSo

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

Shaurya Chakra was also posthumously awarded to Naik Chandra Singh, Constable Manzoor Naik of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Sergeant Milind Khairnar and Corporal Nilesh Kumar Nayan. Kirit Chakra was also awarded to Central Reserve Police Force Commandant Chetan Kumar Cheeta and Major Vijayant Bist of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry.

#PresidentKovind presents Shaurya Chakra to Naik Chandra Singh (Posthumous) of the Kumaon Scouts, 13th Battalion the Rashtriya Rifles. Naik Chandra Singh displayed act of bravery and made supreme sacrifice while performing a gallant act beyond the call of duty in Jammu & Kashmir pic.twitter.com/sBuR6ZYBTn

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

#PresidentKovind presents Shaurya Chakra to Constable Manzoor Ahmad Naik (Posthumous) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, 42nd Battalion the Rashtriya Rifles. He displayed sheer grit and unflinching devotion to duty in engaging the militant and made supreme sacrifice for the nation pic.twitter.com/21tbp8HBTR

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

#PresidentKovind presents Shaurya Chakra to Corporal Nilesh Kumar Nayan (Posthumous), IAF (Security). He displayed extreme valour, determination and highest order of camaraderie in fighting with the terrorists and made the supreme sacrifice for the nation pic.twitter.com/V2mcaoeDqJ

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

#PresidentKovind presents Shaurya Chakra to Sergeant Khairnar Milind Kishor (Posthumous), IAF (Garud). He displayed indomitable spirit, exceptional courage, disregard of personal safety in the face of enemy and made supreme sacrifice in fighting with the armed terrorists pic.twitter.com/IZhlCbF1ah

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

#PresidentKovind presents Kirti Chakra to Major Vijayant Bist, 4th Battalion the J&K Light Infantry. He displayed conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage beyond the call of duty and exemplary leadership in eliminating two terrorists in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir pic.twitter.com/LSwAwWavNL

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

Cheeta was grievously injured in an operation against terrorists in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir last year. Cheeta lost an eye in the operation. A man with an extensive combat experience, Cheeta said he was raring to go back to the field. "I fought with my wife so that I could get back to work," Cheeta said after the award ceremony.

#PresidentKovind presents Kirti Chakra to Shri Chetan Kumar Cheeta, Commandant, 45 Battalion, CRPF. He displayed exemplary bravery, exceptional leadership qualities and indomitable fighting spirit risking his own life in neutralising the hardcore terrorists in Bandipora, J&K pic.twitter.com/UHAE2AGsUM

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

Kovind also awarded Shaurya Chakra to Asst. Commandant Chandan Kumar from the CRPF, and Asst. Assault Commander P Trinadha Rao and Senior Commando Chikkam G V Ramachandran Rao of the Andhra Police for fighting Maoists. Shaurya Chakra was also awarded to Maj Abhinav Shukla, Maj Rohit Shukla, Gunner Rishi Kumar Ray, Sepoy Arif Khan and Lance Naik Badher Hussian, Havildar Mubarak Ali.

#PresidentKovind presents Shaurya Chakra to Shri Chandan Kumar, Assistant Commandant, CRPF and Shri Amar Nath Mishra, Constable, CRPF. They exhibited exemplary courage, leadership qualities and selfless devotion to the duty during operation against Maoists in Aurangabad and Gaya pic.twitter.com/qROeC8fDct

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

#PresidentKovind presents Shaurya Chakra to Shri P. Trinadha Rao, Assistant Assault Commander and Shri Chikkam Rao, Senior Commando. They showed extraordinary commitment beyond the call of duty and played a major role in neutralising the Maoist attack in Ramgurha, Andhra Pradesh pic.twitter.com/QaT89DneYS

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

#PresidentKovind presents Shaurya Chakra to Sepoy Arif Khan, the Grenadiers Regiment, 55th Battalion, Rashtriya Rifles. He displayed exemplary courage and presence of mind during the operation against militants, resulting in elimination of one hardcore militant in Pulwama (J&K) pic.twitter.com/bZPDjvyGSn

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

#PresidentKovind presents Shaurya Chakra to Lance Naik Badher Hussain, 4th Battalion the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. He displayed gallant act of saving a life of his buddy and courage beyond call of duty in elimination of two terrorists in Uri (J&K) pic.twitter.com/WxaVookg7i

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) were awarded to 14 top officers from the Army, Navy and the Air Force. PVSM is awarded to officers for "distinguished service of the most exceptional order".

#PresidentKovind presents Shaurya Chakra to Sepoy Venkatarao Abotula, 8th Battalion the Madras Regiment. His gallant, bold and swift actions prevented a sneak attack and resulted in elimination of three militants in Kupwara, Jammu & Kashmir pic.twitter.com/LAK3qYZ9n5

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

#PresidentKovind presents Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) to Major General Madhuri Kanitkar, Army Medical Corps pic.twitter.com/DGE71sP2Qj

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 27, 2018

The Uttam Yuddh Seva Medal (UYSM) was also awarded to Lt Gen Ajae Kumar Sharma for "distinguished service of an exceptional order during war/ conflict/ hostilities". Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) was awarded to 22 senior officers of the three armed forces. Among those awarded the AVSM was Maj Gen Madhuri Kanitkar, the only woman officer among the awardees.

Kanitkar, a paediatric nephrologist, is the first woman Dean of the Armed Forces Medical College.