3 Ashok Chakra awardees receive medals

Major D Sreeram Kumar, late Major Mohit Sharma and Havildar Rajesh Kumar were honoured with the country's highest peace time gallantry medal—the Ashok Chakra on Tuesday.

President Pratibha Patil presented the medals to the two officers and the jawan during the Republic Day parade in which South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was the chief guest.

The medals of Maj Mohit Sharma of the 1 Para (Special Forces), and Hav Rajesh Kumar of 11 Rajputana Rifles were awarded posthomously and received by their wives. Maj Mohit Sharma, born in Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh and commissioned in 90 Medium Regiment (Artillery) in March 2004, was killed in a battle with terrorists in the Hafruda forest in Jammu and Kashmir in March last. Maj D Sreeram Kumar, serving with 30 Assam Rifles since March 2007, had eliminated 12 terrorists in counter insurgency operations in the northeast.

The two officers were named for Ashok Chakra on the eve of Independence Day on August 15 last. Havildar Rajesh Kumar returned fire by terrorists in dense forests of Kupwara and killed them.

President Pratibha Patil presented the medals to the two officers and the jawan during the Republic Day parade in which South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was the chief guest.

The medals of Maj Mohit Sharma of the 1 Para (Special Forces), and Hav Rajesh Kumar of 11 Rajputana Rifles were awarded posthomously and received by their wives. Maj Mohit Sharma, born in Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh and commissioned in 90 Medium Regiment (Artillery) in March 2004, was killed in a battle with terrorists in the Hafruda forest in Jammu and Kashmir in March last. Maj D Sreeram Kumar, serving with 30 Assam Rifles since March 2007, had eliminated 12 terrorists in counter insurgency operations in the northeast.

The two officers were named for Ashok Chakra on the eve of Independence Day on August 15 last. Havildar Rajesh Kumar returned fire by terrorists in dense forests of Kupwara and killed them.

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