Mumbai/Pune: A total of 12 Army personnel and six units presently serving/located in and around Pune were felicitated during the Southern Command Investiture Ceremony conducted at the iconic Gateway of India, Mumbai, on Thursday, February 20.
Lieutenant General CP Mohanty, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, based in Pune, presented gallantry and distinguished awards to 51 Army officers and jawans along with 22 units of Southern Command for their outstanding contribution in various fields.
While addressing the audience on this occasion, the Army Commander said, “Recognition of such acts of selfless service motivates the rank and file in the Army to draw inspiration and re-dedicate themselves to uphold the honour and dignity of our great nation in the best traditions of the Indian Army.”
He further highlighted the importance of jointness with other services and civil agencies in 11 states and four Union territories under jurisdiction of Southern Command while remaining operationally geared up to face all security challenges and fulfill its assigned mandate at all times.
Awardees from Pune
Colonel Dhanjay Madhav Bhosle from HQ Southern Comd, Major Davinder Pal Singh from Mahar unit, were awarded Bar to Sena Medal (gallantry).
Major Udayan Thakur from ASC and Major Harmeek Singh Bains from Engineers, were awarded Sena Medal (gallantry).
Colonel Manish Mehrotra from Punjab unit awarded Bar to Sena Medal (Distinguished).
Major General Adosh Kumar from Artillery, Major General Nitin Ram Indurkar from Mahar, Brigadier Manoj Kumar from Artillery, Brigadier Om Prakash Vaishnav from Army Air Defence (AAD), were awarded Sena Medal (Distinguished).
Major General Shailjanand Jha from Armoured, Colonel Gaurav Sanan from AAD, Subedar Major B Karunakanan from Army Physical Training Corps (APTC), were awarded Vishisht Seva Medal.
The GOC-in-C Southern Command Unit Citations were awarded to Southern Command Signal Regiment, Southern Command Information Security Group, 4/5 Gorkha Rifles, 21 Corps Zone Workshop, 120 Engineers Regiment, 16 Engineers Regiment.
Tales of Bravery
Bar To Sena Medal (Gallantry)
Col Dhanjay Bhosle led operation to recover an Advanced Light Helicopter, which crashed in Siachen Glacier in January 2018.
Maj Davinder Pal Singh displayed raw courage and came face to face with a terrorist and neutralised him on the spot. This resulted in elimination of a Category A++ terrorist and injured the other escaping terrorist under intense firefight.
Sena Medal (Gallantry)
Maj Udayan Thakur on receipt of intelligence input about presence of terrorists in a village established a fullproof cordon with stealth and surprise. Displayed exemplary leadership, raw courage, fearlessness in the face of terrorist fire and gallantry beyond call of duty, resulting in elimination of one hardcore terrorist.
Maj Harmeek Singh Bains maintained his tactical composure and displayed nerves of steel, while retaliating fire from close range, which resulted in elimination of a terrorist during an operation in a village of Jammu and Kashmir on June 29, 2018.
Women in Army for 30 years
Lt Gen Mohanty welcomed the SC’s decision on women being eligible for permanent commission. “Women have been part of the Army for 30 years now. There are parameters for everyone joining the Army. They have to meet certain fitness criteria, irrespective of their gender,” he said.