Havildar Dada honoured with Ashok Chakra

He was honoured posthumously, with the government announcing the highest award to an Army man during peace-time operations on Sunday on the eve of the Independence Day. Dada (36), who laid down his life for the country on May 27 this year, valiantly fought in the treacherous Shamsabari range in North Kashmir eliminating four heavily- armed terrorists who had infiltrated into North Kashmir from Pak-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). Hailing from Boduria village in far-flung Arunachal Pradesh, the Havildar, who was popularly known as ‘Dada’ among his team, was posted at the high mountain range since late last year.

Lt Col Niranjan EK, head of NSG’s bomb disposal unit who was killed while sanitising a terrorist’s body during the Pathankot air base terror attack in January, has been honoured with the Shaurya Chakra, the third highest peacetime gallantry medal of the country, on the eve of the 70th Independence Day.

‘Mansi’, a four-year-old Labrador and a member of Army’s tracker dog unit, has become possibly the first canine to have been selected for a posthumous war honour, after she and her handler Bashir Ahmed War laid down their lives to prevent an infiltration bid by terrorists in north Kashmir. Mansi was on Sunday honoured with the ‘Mention of Despatches’ certificate.  In an unrelated note, ten ITBP commandos, who valiantly thwarted terrorist strikes on Indian Consulates in Afghanistan, have been accorded top police gallantry medals on the eve of the 70th Independence Day.

Greeting the country on the eve of Independence Day, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Sunday urged people to dedicate themselves to the values of harmony,brotherhood and mutual trust. Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Sunday extended his wishes to the people and said “Everyone must live up to the ideals laid down in the Constitution.” Kerala Governor P Sathasivam today urged people to renew their commitment to uphold the highest standards of democratic tradition while celebrating the 70th Independence Day of the country.