New Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS) Lieutenant Navdeep Singh, a young army commando who died fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, will be conferred Ashok Chakra, the country's highest peacetime gallantry medal, by President Pratibha Patil Thursday to mark India's 63 Republic Day.
Navdeep Singh was named for the medal along with 367 other bravery and service medals to security personnel on the eve of Republic Day Wednesday.
Navdeep Singh, who was a Ghatak (commando) platoon commander of 15 Maratha Light Infantry deployed in the high altitude areas along the Line of Control with Pakistan, eliminated four terrorists at close range during an ambush on Aug 20 last year and in the process was took a bullet in his head resulting in his death later.
On Thursday, the president will confer the Ashok Chakra on Lt. Navdeep Singh (posthumous) before the start of the Republic Day parade at Rajpath and the medal will be recieved by the next of kin.
Along with Navdeep Singh, the president also named Lt Col Kamaldeep Singh of Rajputana Rifles, Captain Ashutosh Kumar of Rajputana Rifles and Lt Sushil Khajuria of Grenadiers were named for Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry medal.
Of the three Kirti Chakra awardees for their acts of bravery in fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Sushil Khajuria was named for the medal posthumously.
The president also named another 16 security personnel for Shaurya Chakra, the third highest gallantry medal during peacetime, of which five of them will receive it posthumously.
These apart, three Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 73 Sena Medal (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), two Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 28 Param Vishisht Seva Medal, one Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, six Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 45 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, four Yudh Seva Medal, three Bar to Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 37 Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), eight Nao Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 14 Vayu Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), six Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal and 115 Vishisht Seva Medal were also named.
In addition, a total of three Mention-In-Despatches have also been announced for participating in Operation Rakshak, the counter insurgency operation in Jammu and Kashmir.