The highest peace time gallantry award Ashok Chakra for this year is posthumously being conferred on Lieutenant Navdeep Singh. The President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil will confer the medal at the start of the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi today.

Lieutenant Singh was a platoon commander of the 15 Maratha Light Infantry deployed in a high altitude area near the Line of Control who gunned down three terrorists who were trying to infiltrate the Indian territory on August 20,2011.

Even as he was changing positions to shoot a fourth one, he was hit by a bullet in the head. Despite the injury, Lieutenant Singh killed the fourth terrorist.

The President has also approved three Kirti Chakra awards which will be conferred posthumously on Lieutenant Sushil Khajuria of the Army Service Corps. Lieutenant Khajuria, while leading his team in a search operation in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, eliminated two terrorists without caring for his personal safety.

Lieutenant Colonel Kamaldeep Singh and Captain Ashutosh Kumar of the Rajputana Rifles who also displayed exemplary courage in fighting terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, have also been recommended for Kirti Chakra.

In addition to these, the President will also award 16 Shaurya Chakra, 73 Sena Medal (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry), two Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry), 28 Param Vishisht Seva Medal, 45 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, 37 Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 08 Nao Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 14 Vayu Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty) and 115 Vishisht Seva Medal besides others.