Colonel Bhupinder Singh Ghotra 5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) (195/68)

Col Bhupinder Singh Ghotra is the commanding officer of the illustrious second battalion of the Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force).

On 12 November 1993, when he was returning from a scheduled visit to one of his company posts in the Maskoh valley in Kargil Sector of Jammu and Kashmir along with his protection party and had walked for several hours, he received a radio message from one of the patrols that it had observed 15 to 20 armed militants moving towards the DWT Nala which branches off from the main Maskoh Nala.

Quickly issuing instructions to the nearby post to relay a message to the battalion headquarters to send reinforcement, Colonel Bhupinder Singh Ghotra rushed to ambush the militants with his protection party of seven personnel. During his move along the DWT Nala he drew very heavy volume of automatic fire at very close range from a cave dominating his location.

Undeterred and Undisturbed he fired back and killed one militant and injured two others. On the morning of 13 th November 1993, approximately 0600 hrs as Colonel Bhupinder Singh Ghotra, with utter disregard to personal safety, began to move towards the caves with Naik Mohan Singh Gurung. They were fired upon from very close range. Naik Mohan Singh Gurung was killed instantly. By 0900 hrs the first reinforcement of 10 soldiers arrived at the location. Colonel Bhupinder Singh Ghotra tightened the cordon more effectively and kept the militants engaged till fresh ammunition and manpower arrived. During the rest of the day he exhibited courage and bravery of the highest order and led repeated assaults on the cave killing several militants but had to pull back each time.

On 14 November 1993 Colonel Bhupinder Singh Ghotra resolutely led another assault in the evening when all other efforts to blast the cave failed, killing some more militants. On 15th November 1993 Colonel Bhupinder Singh Ghotra once again led another determined assault on it killing the remaining militants and capturing the hideout.

For his conspicuous bravery and inspiring leadership at great personal Colonel Bhupinder Singh Ghotra awarded Sena Medal on 15 August 94  vide Gazette of India Notification No 144- Press/94 published on 17th September 1994.

       Captain Prince Joseph, SM (G) (R No 2005/90)

Captain Prince Jose was awarded Sena Medal (Gallantry) for fighting insurgents in the Kashmir Valley in 1998.

The operation was later known as Operation Prince. It was a raid on the militants hide-out at Tilpatra forest, Kupwara in Jammu & Kashmir.

In the operation, six militants were killed and own casualty was one.  Capt Prince Jose accounted for two terrorists. He was awarded SM in  January 1999 post Kargil War.

             Major Kannanthanam Joseph Samuel SM (G) (R No 210/67)

On 29th November 1984 while operating in the Siachen Glacier as detachment commander on an air observation post section, Major KJ Samuel was called upon to land his helicopter to rescue at patrol that had fallen into a crevasse. The accident site was so located that it hardly afforded any place to land the helicopter. However, using his past experience and judgement Major Samuel managed to land on a ledge of jutting out ice, at a height of 18600 feet in turbulent wind conditions and with marginal Reserve of power.

Major Samuel carried out six such sorties on 29th and 30th November 1984, taking up reserve teams and equipment, because of which the bodies of the personnel involved in the accident could be recovered from the crevasse.

 Major Samuel displayed a remarkable sense of professionalism of the highest order in the face of an emergency, and with utter regard to personal safety undertook the mission given to him with good presence of mind and planning.

For his determination, courage ingenuity and above all very high devotion to duty, Major Kannanthanam Joseph Samuel was awarded SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY) by the President of India

 Major V Suresh Nair, SM (251/68)

In 1984, Major V Suresh Nair was commanding a company of 16 MARATHA LI in Kanpur, after being part of Operation Blue Star in Punjab earlier in the same year. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination by two of her Sikh body guards post Operation Blue Star, caused massive anti Sikh riots across the country from 31 October to 04 November 1984.

Kanpur was one of the worst affected cities after Delhi. On the night of 31 October 1984, following the assassination of Mrs Gandhi in the morning, Major Suresh Nair was tasked by higher Head Quarters to carry out a preliminary assessment of the situation.  By 0900 hours next morning riots had broken out and he along with his company was ordered to carry out a flag march in the worst affected areas in Kanpur city. Even though the situation was not yet handed over to the army, he and his company carried out several rescue missions of Sikhs who were being attacked including pregnant women from roof tops thus saving many precious lives. The rioters were in frenzy and the situation was handed over to the army by late that night.

Through that night and subsequent days and nights Major Suresh Nair working tirelessly along with his company saved a large number of hapless Sikhs who were being attacked by the population at large and the criminal elements among them. By timely and professional intervention, he faced hordes of armed frenzy crowds, dispelled all sorts of rumours of large numbers of Sikhs coming from Punjab to poisonwater tanks etc. Major Suresh Nair led from the front throughout without any concern for his personal safety.

On the night of 02/03 November, after due warning for violating IPC Section 144,  Major Suresh Nair personally fired at a group of people who refused to disperse,  they were armed with swords and such murderous weapons and moving to a housing colony of Sikhs to cause mayhem and murder. In the firing three in the crowd were instantly killed who later turned out to be the most notorious criminal and goondas of Kanpur. This became the turning point in the riots and due to the salutary effect caused by that firing, the anti-sikh riots in Kanpur lost its sheen.  In the subsequent days Major Suresh Nair and his company rescued a large numbers of Sikhs who were in hiding in extreme panic and fear. He also retrieved a huge quantity of stolen property and valuables and safely handed them over the local police.

By his exemplary leadership, personal example with utter disregard to personal safety Major Suresh Nair was able to keep the situation in Kanpur somewhat under control and avoided large scale casualties like in Delhi and was awarded SENA MEDAL (Gallantry) by the President of India on the occasion of the Republic Day in 1986.

Capt Prajith P Varma

Capt Rintomon Thachil (21 PARA (SF)

On 10 Dec 13, four terrorist were spotted entering a village and intermingling with the civilians.

Continuous surveillance was maintained till 11 Dec 13.

At 0630 hrs when terrorists were challenged by closely placed stops, the terrorists using civilian as human shields started firing indiscriminately. The officer with utter disregard to his personal safety crawled under heavy fire to the rear of the terrorists and shot them at a very close distance.

        Major Sonu K Sidharhan, SM (3510/03)

On May 2012, foreign terrorist laid a trap and killed Sep Noor Hussain of an Infantry Battalion of Territorial Army. Since then Major Sonu K Sidharth launched the hunt for the terrorist in the most competent and professional manner with relentless pursuit.

On 28th May 2012, the officer received information about likely presence of the terrorist in general area in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. Leading the column, the officer placed stops and cordoned the target house. At first light, the officer organised and ensured safe passage of 13 standard civilians from the house to a safer location, thereby saving innocent lives.

Major Sonu K Siddharthan, then challenged the terrorist, who opened indiscriminate fire on the column. Officer displayed exceptional tactical acumen and re-adjusted the column on deciphering the exact location of the terrorist.

In spite of being under accurate fire, the officer maintained calm and disregarding is personal safety but ensuring safety office on troops, he re-adjusted his position and covered the main entry / exit point of the house. The officer then closed in and while displaying sheer determination, courage, exceptional valour, gun downed the terrorist in close quarter battle. 

Major Rahul Balamohan, SM (R No 4189/06)

On 11 Jun 2019, Major Rahul Balamohan, Company Commander of Frisal Company Operating Base displayed exceptional tactical acumen, strengthened the cordon in the target area and blocked all escape routes for the terrorists.

Major Rahul Balamohan displayed impeccable courage and exceptional field craft skills in clearing and occupying the fire base, amidst heavy volume of fire drawn from terrorists holed up in the target house. This action by the officer facilitated in carrying out close reconnaissance of the target house. Suddenly terrorists started firing indiscriminately towards the fire base and tried to break the cordon. On spotting the terrorist attempting to escape, the officer displayed raw courage, sheer bravado and presence of mind in firing, controlled volume of small arms fire towards the fleeing terrorist and neutralized him on the spot. This resulted in elimination of Islamic State affiliated to Jammu and Kashmir terrorist “Shakir Khalil Wagay, Category C”.

Major Rahul Balamohan displayed indomitable courage, exceptional professional, tactical acumen and sane presence of mind, which helped in elimination of a hardcore terrorist and acted as a role model for teams to show courage under fire.

For this act of bravery, he has been awarded Sena Medal (Gallantry).

Maj GS SatishChandran (Posthmous) (447/73)

Maj GS SateeshChandran, laid down his life fighting militants in Nagaland on 12/06/1992.

For his tremendous display of valour and courage during the action he was posthumously awarded the Sena Medal by the President on 26/01/1993.