Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 8

Tributes were paid to Major Sandeep Shankla of 18 Dogra to mark his 30th martyrdom day at his memorial in Panchkula today. He was decorated posthumously with the highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra.

Among those who paid floral tributes at the memorial were Gian Chand Gupta, Speaker of the Haryana Legislative Assembly, Gen VP Malik, former Chief of the Army Staff, Sandeep’s parents Lt Col JS Kanwar (retd) and Manju Kanwar, officers of the Dogra Regiment as well as veterans. Wreaths were also laid on behalf of the GOC-in-C, Western Command, and the Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula.

During a counter-terrorist operation in Jafarkhani village in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on August 8, 1991, Maj Shankla had made the supreme sacrifice while leading a daring raid that had resulted in the elimination of nine terrorists and the apprehension of 22 others.

In the same operation, Sep Swaran Singh was posthumously decorated with the second-highest peacetime gallantry award, Kirti Chakra, while Capt BJS Sandhu received the Shaurya Chakra. The battalion was awarded five Sena Medal, two Army Chief’s commendations and one Army Commander’s commendation in the operation.