Independence Day: 16 BSF Heroes Honoured with Gallantry Medals for Operation Sindoor
BSF: image by PTIIn a stirring tribute to frontline valour, sixteen BSF personnel have been honoured with Gallantry Medals for demonstrating “conspicuous bravery” and “unmatched valour” during Operation Sindoor, conducted from May 7 to 10 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
“The medals are a testament to the Nation’s faith & trust reposed in the India’s First Line of Defence: The Border Security Force,” the BSF said in a social media post.
Among the decorated are a Deputy Commandant, two Assistant Commandants, and an Inspector, reflecting the breadth of leadership and frontline courage recognized.
The list of the heroes being awarded is as follows:
- Sub Inspector Vyas Dev
- Constable Suddi Rabha
- Abhishek Srivastav, Asst. Commandant
- Constable Bhupendra Bajpai
- Constable Rajan Kumar
- Constable Basavaraja Shivappa Sunkada
- Head Constable Brij Mohan Singh
- Constable Depeswar Barman
- Inspector Udai Vir Singh
- Ravindra Rathore, Dy. Commandant
- Inspector Devi Lal
- Head Constable Sahib Singh
- Constable Kanwaraj Singh
- ASI Rajappa B T
- Constable Manohar Xalxo
- Alok Negi, Asst. Commandant
Detailed reports highlight heroic individual acts: Sub‑Inspector Vyas Dev, despite grievous injuries from a mortar explosion, continued his mission and motivated fellow troops before undergoing amputation of his left leg. Constable Suddi Rabha, severely wounded as well, stood firm alongside him. Others, including Abhishek Srivastav and jawans like Brij Mohan Singh, Bhupendra Bajpai, Rajan Kumar, Basavaraja Shivappa Sunkada, and Depeswar Barman, displayed courage under intense shelling and drone attacks at BOP Kharkola.
ASI Udai Vir Singh disabled enemy surveillance and HMG sites under fire, despite sustaining serious facial injuries, securing the forward posts. ASI Rajappa B T and Constable Manohar Xalxo completed a perilous ammunition resupply mission at Karotana Khurd despite being wounded. Assistant Commandant Alok Negi, with Constables Kandarpa Chowdhury and Waghmare Bhawan Deora, led a defensive operation at FDL Mukhyari, holding off enemy fire for over 48 hours without casualties. Commandant Ravindra Rathore and his team earned recognition for saving a comrade under dire circumstances.
These gallantry awards are part of a broader ceremony in which the government announced a total of 1,090 service medals across security forces. Of these, 233 were Gallantry Medals, 99 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service (PSM), and 758 Medals for Meritorious Service (MSM).