PHOTOS

Indian Army soldiers martyred during Galwan Valley clashes with China

Twenty Army personnel on June 15 night were killed in action in the violent face-off between Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh.

The biggest ever military confrontation between the two armies in over five decades was the result of the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo in the region.

Although Beijing has not talked about the number of casualties in PLA, but a PTI news agency report says that the Chinese side suffered "proportionate casualties" but the picture is not clear about the number of Chinese soldiers killed as well as those injured in the clash.

The sources, however, told the news agency that there were 35 casualties on the Chinese side, citing US intelligence reports.

The Indian Army on Wednesday (June 17) saluted the supreme sacrifice of the valiant soldiers at the Galwan Valley and asserted that their sacrifices will not go in vain. The Army also offered its deepest condolences to the families and vowed to stand strong towards protecting the sovereignty and integrity of India.

Here in the gallery, we have pictures, names, and native places of the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives while in action.

May their souls rest in peace.

Zee Media Bureau|

Updated:Jun 17, 2020, 07:13 PM IST

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Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu (1)

Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, one of the martyrs hailed from Suryapet town in the Nalgonda district (Telangana) and was the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment. He was posted on borders for over a year and a half. Yesterday, while talking to Colonel Babu's mother, she said she is proud of her son's sacrifice but is also sad at losing her only son.

Martyred Colonel's mother Manjula said, "I'm proud of my son who gave the supreme sacrifice for motherland but as a mother, I'm sad today." She added that he's her only son.

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Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu (2)

Colonel Babu is survived by wife Santoshi, a 9-year old daughter Abhinav and a 4-year old son Anirudh.

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K Palani (1)

Havildar (Gnr) K Palani hailed from Madurai (Tamil Nadu). He has left behind two kids and had served the Indian Army for 22 years. His father-in-law Nachiappan said that they were informed of his death during the early hours. "An Army official from Rajasthan called and informed us. He had even come to this very house in our town in January this year. The family is fully dependent on his income” said Nachiappan.

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K Palani (2)

Palani's father-in-law Nachiappan informed that Palani had two schoolgoing kids - a son who is studying in 6th grade and a daughter who is in her 3rd grade. The slain soldier’s wife is a degree holder and works as a clerk at a college in the Ramanathapuram district.

Earlier yesterday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced a solatium of Rs 20 lakh for the family and also offered a government job (based on qualification) for the next of kin.