Gallantry award ceremonies bare skirmishes between Sept 2021 & Nov 2022

The armies of India and China clashed at least twice in 15 months along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Multiple covert operations during the period along the LAC also helped keep a watch on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China during “times of crisis”.

These clashes and the covert operations came in the open after the Western Army Command, Chandimandir, and the Central Army Command, Lucknow, conducted separate investitures over the past three days to award gallantry medals to officers and men. These operations were conducted between September 2021 and November 2022.

The details were announced as citations were read out when each of the gallantry awards was pinned on to the chest of soldiers. These operations along the LAC were previously unreported. The Western Command has disabled a YouTube video it put out of the event. The Central Command YouTube link was working till Monday evening.

Detailing the clashes, the Western Command investiture mentioned how PLA troops attacked the Indian Army post at Shankar Tekri along the LAC on January 7, 2022. “With unmatched valour, Sepoy Raman Singh from the 8th Battalion of the Sikh Light Infantry confronted the intruders in a brutal hand-to-hand battle. He repelled the attack by seriously wounding four Chinese soldiers and taking their guns,” said the citation. He was awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry).

Another clash took place on November 27, 2022, when some 50 PLA soldiers attempted to cross the LAC and take the Atari Post, said the citation of Naib Subedar Baldev Singh of the 19th Battalion of the J&K Rifles. “He led the charge against the invading force and injured around 15 Chinese soldiers,” the citation said, adding that the Naib Subedar was injured. He was awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry).

“The Commanding Officer of the 19th Batallion of the J&K Rifles, Lt Col Pushmeet Singh, conducted a patrol along the LAC. His manoeuvres successfully prevented a massive PLA infiltration attempt. This resulted in a tense standoff lasting two days and he negotiated with the local Chinese commander,” the citation said, adding that the officer remained calm during the crisis. He was awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry).

Meanwhile, several covert operations were conducted at specific locations along the LAC. The Western Command investiture saw Major Sourav Kumar, CO of the 15th Battalion of the Kumaon Regiment, being awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry) for leading a covert mission “deep within Chinese territory” as part of a classified operation. Havildar Pardeep Kumar Singh of the same battalion was awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry) for the same operation.

Lt Col Yogesh Kumar Sati of the 31 Armoured Division and attached with the Intelligence Corps, on September 16, 2022, was assigned to go into the “enemy territory” as part of Operation Snow Leopard. He suffered from high-altitude sickness but carried on and accomplished the task without being discovered. He was awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry) for “displaying stealth and tactical skill, enhancing India’s strategic edge in the area,” the citation said.

At the Central Command investiture, Major Nitish Tyagi from the 12 Para Special Forces Battalion, was tasked with staying in a very high-altitude area in the North-East for 120 hours amid bad weather to keep an eye on the PLA. He has been awarded Bar to the Sena Medal (Gallantry).

Courtesy: The Tribune India:  16th  Jan , 2024