New Delhi: A head constable and three constables deployed at the highly sensitive Kharkola border outpost were among 16 Border Security Force (BSF) jawans honoured with gallantry medals by the President of India this Independence Day, for display of exemplary courage during Operation Sindoor. They are Head Constable Brij Mohan Singh, Constables Depeswar Barman, Bhupendra Bajpai, Rajan Kumar and Basavaraja Shivappa Sunkada.
According to the citations, on the intervening night of 7-8 May, Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling, targeting BSF outposts using flat and high trajectory weapons, followed by a drone attack. The Kharkola border outpost, barely 200 metres from the international border, was among Indian military installations that came under intense fire.
Then again, in the early hours of 10 May, multiple Pakistani drones were sighted in the area. Troops under the command of Sub-Inspector Mohammed Imteyaj neutralised one such drone. But soon after, a mortar shell possibly dropped using the drones exploded, grievously injuring five BSF jawans. Yet, they continued retaliating.
Another recipient, Assistant Commandant Abhishek Srivastav, posted at this border outpost as part of his probation training, rushed to help the injured BSF jawans and post commander, eventually evacuating them from the area. However, SI Imteyaj later succumbed to injuries.
Also among the gallantry medal recipients were SI Vyas Dev and Constable Suddi Rabha, both deployed in Jammu. SI Dev and Constable Rabha sustained injuries after a mortar shell exploded near them. According to BSF, SI Dev even after suffering life-threatening injuries remained conscious, stabilised himself and kept motivating fellow jawans.
His left leg had to be amputated. Constable Rabha, meanwhile, sustained severe blast trauma-deep lacerations in the perineal region, injuries to thighs, left leg, and right ankle.
Other gallantry medal recipients include Assistant Sub-Inspector Rajappa B.T. and Constable Manohar Xalxo. Engaged in critical resupply of arms in Jammu, both were injured when a mortar shell exploded near them. ASI Rajappa succumbed to fatal splinter injuries.
ASI Udai Vir Singh, also posted in Jammu, successfully destroyed a Pakistani surveillance camera on 10 May, preventing Pakistani troops from real-time monitoring of border outposts and troop movement. ASI Singh was grievously injured when a shrapnel hit his upper lip but he continued to engage the enemy, refusing immediate evacuation.
Deputy Commandant Ravindra Rathore, Inspector Devi Lal, Head Constable Sahib Singh, Constable Kanwaraj Singh and Assistant Commandant Alok Negi are the other BSF jawans honoured with the gallantry medal on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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