New Delhi, August 14 :
Fifteen personnel have been recommended for prestigious gallantry awards in recognition of their exceptional courage, leadership, tactical brilliance and selfless service during counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, according to official award citations.
The recommendations comprise three Kirti Chakras, one Bar to Shaurya Chakra and eleven Shaurya Chakras. Two of the recommendations — Havildar Gajendra Singh and Lance Naik Narender Sindhu — are posthumous.
The citations cover operations conducted in Kishtwar, Kulgam, Kathua, along the Line of Control (LoC), the Indo-Myanmar border and Manipur.
Three Kirti Chakras Recommended
Lieutenant Colonel Maneo Francis PF, SC, of the 21st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), has been recommended for the Kirti Chakra for his leadership during an operation in Manipur between October 29 and November 4, 2025.
According to the citation, he developed a coordinated intelligence network against a violent insurgent group and subsequently led an operation following prolonged surveillance. Under heavy automatic fire, he manoeuvred his assault group, eliminated a sentry and later crawled under fire to engage another insurgent in close-quarter combat.
Major Jitendra Rathee, of the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), has also been recommended for the Kirti Chakra for his actions during an operation in Kishtwar on February 22, 2025.
Acting on intelligence regarding terrorists hiding in a forested area, Major Rathee adjusted the cordon to seal escape routes and moved close to the hideout. The citation credits him with deploying canine ‘Tyson’ under heavy hostile fire, providing covering fire and subsequently eliminating three foreign terrorists.
The Kirti Chakra (Posthumous) has been recommended for Havildar Gajendra Singh, of the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), for his supreme sacrifice during an operation in Kishtwar on January 18, 2026.
Operating in dense jungle terrain at an altitude of more than 3,000 metres, he detected a suspected terrorist hideout. After two scouts were wounded by terrorist fire, Havildar Gajendra Singh evacuated them one after another and provided first aid. Despite sustaining multiple bullet wounds, he re-engaged the terrorists and critically injured a most-wanted foreign terrorist before succumbing to his injuries.
Major Aditya Pratap Singh Recommended for Bar to Shaurya Chakra
Major Aditya Pratap Singh, SC, SM, serving with The Rajputana Rifles/44 Assam Rifles, has been recommended for a Bar to Shaurya Chakra for an operation along the Indo-Myanmar border on July 5, 2025.
According to the citation, his patrol came under intense automatic and grenade fire in difficult forested terrain. Despite sustaining splinter injuries, he continued advancing under fire and engaged and eliminated a top operational commander of a high-profile insurgent group at close quarters.
A large cache of war-like stores was also recovered during the operation.
Eleven Shaurya Chakras Recommended
Major Paramveer, of The Garhwal Rifles/36th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles, has been recommended for the Shaurya Chakra for an operation in the general area of Machhadi along the LoC. He led a close-range ambush, engaged three terrorists and pursued one who attempted to escape. During a subsequent search, additional terrorists were located and neutralised and war-like stores were recovered.
Major Tarun Vasudevan, of The Rajputana Rifles/57th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles, has been recommended for the Shaurya Chakra for his role in a counter-infiltration operation. Following intelligence regarding a possible infiltration attempt, he led an ambush column and engaged two heavily armed terrorists at close range, resulting in their elimination.
Major Keshav Kumar, of the 12th Battalion, The Dogra Regiment, has been recommended for the Shaurya Chakra for an operation dated February 2, 2026. He moved through difficult terrain, occupied likely escape routes and personally searched caves while exposing himself to grave danger. His actions contributed to the elimination of a terrorist identified in the citation as a Category A++ terrorist.
Major Gaurav Singh Brijwal, of 21 Grenadiers, has been recommended for the Shaurya Chakra for his actions during a counter-infiltration operation along the LoC on November 7, 2025.
Leading a 48-hour ambush, he allowed a group of terrorists to approach the selected killing ground before engaging them. Despite retaliatory fire, he shifted position and neutralised one terrorist while directing his covering party against the others.
Major Vipeen Kumar, of The Dogra Regiment/11th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles, has been recommended for the Shaurya Chakra for his role in a counter-terrorist operation in Kishtwar on February 21-22, 2026.
Leading the inner cordon in difficult mountainous terrain, he closed in on entrenched terrorists and engaged them in a close-quarter firefight. His actions helped trap and subsequently neutralise a dreaded terrorist.
Naib Subedar Shankar Ram, of 3 Assam Rifles, has been recommended for the Shaurya Chakra for exceptional courage during an insurgent attack in Imphal East, Manipur, on November 28, 2025.
Despite suffering a serious hand injury and heavy bleeding, he refused evacuation, continued directing his troops and re-engaged the insurgents. The citation states that his actions critically injured six insurgents and helped force them to retreat across the border. He also detected a bomb-laden hostile drone, averting possible casualties.
Naib Subedar Dabbal Singh Bisht, of the 21st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), has been recommended for the Shaurya Chakra for his gallantry during a firefight with insurgents in Churachandpur, Manipur, on November 4, 2025.
He engaged armed insurgents attempting to breach the cordon and, despite heavy fire, pinned down one insurgent, injured two others and helped thwart the attack.
Havildar Jagattar Singh, of the 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), has been recommended for the Shaurya Chakra for his actions during an operation in the Jofar Forest area in February 2026.
After covertly tracking terrorists and facilitating the induction of troops, he positioned his squad to block escape routes. During the subsequent firefight, he engaged and neutralised a terrorist at close range despite intense enemy fire and grenade attacks.
Lance Naik Narender Sindhu Recommended for Shaurya Chakra Posthumously
Lance Naik Narender Sindhu, of The Rajputana Rifles/9th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles, has been recommended for the Shaurya Chakra (Posthumous) for his supreme sacrifice during a joint search-and-destroy operation in the forest area of Kulgam on September 8, 2025.
The citation states that terrorists opened fire on the search column and attempted to escape. Despite being grievously wounded, Lance Naik Sindhu repositioned himself under fire and engaged a terrorist with accurate fire, killing him.
He was subsequently evacuated but succumbed to his injuries. The terrorist was later identified as a Category A+ terrorist.
Lance Naik Kapil Dev Recommended for Shaurya Chakra
Lance Naik Kapil Dev, of The Dogra Regiment/11th Battalion Rashtriya Rifles, has been recommended for the Shaurya Chakra for his bravery during a counter-terrorist operation in Kishtwar.
Following the busting of a major hideout on January 18, 2026, terrorists fled into dense forest. On February 4, Lance Naik Kapil Dev, serving as a scout with a Ghatak team, detected a terrorist hiding in Dichhar forest.
Moving closer despite being fired upon from two directions, he engaged and eliminated the terrorist, ensuring the safety of his column and facilitating the recovery of arms, ammunition and other war-like stores.
Sepoy Jaswinder Singh Recommended for Shaurya Chakra
Sepoy Jaswinder Singh, of the 7th Battalion, The Sikh Light Infantry, has been recommended for the Shaurya Chakra for his actions during a high-risk house intervention operation in a remote village of Kathua district on January 23, 2026.
Despite heavy rainfall, he led an assault team through dense foliage and ensured that there were no civilians inside the target house. After identifying an armed terrorist inside the kitchen, he moved swiftly towards him and neutralised him at close range.
The operation resulted in the recovery of an M-4 assault rifle and other war-like stores, according to the citation.
The detailed gallantry citations highlight the courage, leadership, tactical skill and sacrifice displayed by the personnel during operations in some of the most challenging operational environments.
The recommendations also underline the contribution of Special Forces, Rashtriya Rifles, Dogra Regiment, Rajputana Rifles, Assam Rifles, Grenadiers and other formations in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
The document contains award recommendations and detailed citations; it does not state that the decorations have already been formally conferred.(KNC)