Independence Day 2024 Gallantry Awards: Check full list of winners HERE

A Telangana policeman who demonstrated exceptional bravery by arresting two chain snatchers despite being severely injured has been honored with the prestigious President's Medal for Gallantry. The recognition was announced as part of the government's release of 1,037 medals for police, fire, prison, home guard, and civil defence personnel on the eve of India's Independence Day.

Head Constable Chaduvu Yadavaiah is the sole recipient of the President's Medal for Gallantry this year, the highest police decoration for bravery. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) acknowledged his "rare gallantry" in an incident that took place on July 25, 2022. Yadavaiah was on duty when he confronted two chain snatchers who were also involved in arms trafficking. Despite being viciously attacked and repeatedly stabbed, Yadavaiah managed to apprehend the criminals. He sustained severe injuries and was hospitalized for 17 days following the incident.

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In addition to Yadavaiah, 213 personnel will receive the Medal for Gallantry, 94 have been selected for the President's Medal for Distinguished Service, and 729 will be awarded the Medal for Meritorious Service.

Among the other honorees, Flight Gunner Sergeant Ashwani Kumar has been conferred with the Vayu Sena Medal for his exceptional courage during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations near Fatehpur in Himachal Pradesh in 2023. His efforts and coordination with state authorities and rescue teams led to the saving of 510 lives, including 42 by winch operations.

From Karnataka, Additional Director General of Police Chandra Sekhar Muwa and Home Guard and Civil Defence Senior Platoon Commander Basavalinga Kuruba Bachalappa were awarded the President's Medal for Distinguished Service. Eighteen Karnataka Police personnel and four from Home Guard and Civil Defence were chosen for the Medal for Meritorious Service.

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The CRPF received the highest number of medals, with 115 honorees, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 91, Maharashtra with 59, and the BSF with 56. Jammu and Kashmir led in the number of Gallantry Medal recipients, with 31 personnel being recognized.

These medals are announced twice a year, on Republic Day and Independence Day, and serve to honor the bravery, distinguished service, and meritorious efforts of those serving in various branches of India's security and defense sectors.

Here's the full list of Gallantry awards, including nine posthumous honors, given to personnel from the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces:

Kirti Chakra:

1. COLONEL MANPREET SINGH (POSTHUMOUS) - ARMY
2. MAJOR MALLA RAMA GOPAL NAIDU - ARMY
3. RIFLEMAN RAVI KUMAR (POSTHUMOUS) - ARMY
4. DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE HIMAYUN MUZZAMMIL BHAT (POSTHUMOUS) - ARMY

Shaurya Chakra

1. COLONEL PAWAN SINGH - ARMY
2. MAJOR CVS NIKHIL - ARMY
3. MAJOR AASHISH DHONCHAK (POSTHUMOUS) - ARMY
4. MAJOR TRIPATPREET SINGH - ARMY
5. MAJOR SAHIL RANDHAWA - ARMY
6. SUBEDAR SANJEEV SINGH JASROTIA - ARMY
7. NAIB SUBEDAR P PABIN SINGHA ARMY
8. SEPOY PARDEEP SINGH (POSTHUMOUS) - ARMY
9. SPO ABDUL LATIF - ARMY
10. CAPTAIN SHARAD SINSUNWAL - NAVY
11. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER KAPIL YADAV - NAVY
12. WING COMMANDER VERNON DESMOND KEANE - AIR FORCE
13. SQUADRON LEADER DEEPAK KUMAR - AIR FORCE
14. SHRI PAWAN KUMAR (POSTHUMOUS) - MHA
15. SHRI DEVAN C (POSTHUMOUS) - MHA
16. SHRI LAKHVEER - MHA
17. SHRI RAJESH PANCHAL - MHA
18. SHRI MALKIT SINGH - MHA

BAR TO SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)

1. LIEUTENANT COLONEL NITIN KUMAR SINGH - ARMY

SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)

1. LIEUTENANT COLONEL RAMAN TYAGI - ARMY
2. LIEUTENANT COLONEL AJAY KUMAR - ARMY
3. LIEUTENANT COLONEL SUDHIR SINGH KALAKOTI - ARMY
4. LIEUTENANT COLONEL S HARSHAVARDHANAN - ARMY
5. LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROSHAN KUMAR JAIN - ARMY
6. LIEUTENANT COLONEL PRIYANK PURI - ARMY
7. LIEUTENANT COLONEL SAKIL AHMAD - ARMY
8. LIEUTENANT COLONEL NAGENDRA KUMAR SARASWAT - ARMY
9. LIEUTENANT COLONEL MUTUM AJOY MEITEI - ARMY
10. MAJOR GAURAV BHARDWAJ - ARMY
11. MAJOR ROBIN DEV ANAND - ARMY
12. MAJOR NACHHATAR SINGH GORAYA - ARMY
13. MAJOR SACHIN KUMAR - ARMY
14. MAJOR PRASUN PANDE - ARMY
15. MAJOR AMAR BAKSHI - ARMY
16. MAJOR GAGANDEEP SINGH - ARMY
17. MAJOR NITIN RAWAT - ARMY
18. MAJOR SHANTANU GHATPANDE - ARMY
19. MAJOR GAUTAM DEV SINGH - ARMY
20. MAJOR MANOHAR SINGH - ARMY
21. MAJOR GIRISH A MASTI - ARMY
22. MAJOR SAURAV SINGH - ARMY
23. MAJOR GAURAV BISHT - ARMY
24. MAJOR GITANSH AHLUWALIA - ARMY
25. MAJOR PUSHPINDER SINGH VERMA - ARMY
26. MAJOR MOHIT RAWAT - ARMY
27. MAJOR ANIL KUMAR - ARMY
28. MAJOR RAMSAGAR PANDAY - ARMY
29. MAJOR MANIK SINGH - ARMY
30. MAJOR ANAND GAURAV - ARMY
31. MAJOR SOUGRAKPAM RISHIKESH SINGH - ARMY
32. MAJOR LALDINGNGHETA - ARMY
33. MAJOR AMIT SHARMA - ARMY
34. CAPTAIN AJAY SHARMA, 6 ENGINEER REGIMENT - ARMY
35. CAPTAIN RAJESH SINGH - ARMY
36. CAPTAIN ROHAN RAVINDRA HANAGI - ARMY 
37. NAIB SUBEDAR DEEPAK KUMAR SHARMA - ARMY
38. NAIB SUBEDAR RAMESH CHANDER - ARMY
39. NAIB SUBEDAR BHOJ RAJ THAPA - ARMY
40. HAVILDAR PRAKASH CHHETRI ARMY
41. HAVILDAR SUDESH KUMAR - ARMY
42. HAVILDAR ANIL DINKAR KALASE (POSTHUMOUS) - ARMY
43. HAVILDAR VEERABHADRAPPA NINGANUR - ARMY
44. NAIK SUBHASH CHANDRA VERMA - ARMY
45. NAIK MUSHTAQ AHMAD BHAT - ARMY
46. NAIK SHASHI THAKUR - ARMY
47. NAIK LOKINDER SHARMA - ARMY
48. NAIK L MACHINMI - ARMY
49. NAIK GORE AMOL TANHAJI (POSTHUMOUS) - ARMY
50. NAIK SONU PRATAP SINGH - ARMY
51. NAIK MOHD IQBAL KHAN - ARMY
52. LANCE NAIK MANIR HOSSAIN - ARMY
53. ACTING LANCE DAFADAR RAJESH KUMAR UMARE - ARMY
54. SEPOY SHASHI RANJAN - ARMY
55. SEPOY ASHOK G - ARMY
56. SEPOY KANERKAR SANDIP KRISHNATH - ARMY
57. SEPOY MUTTU SAPPURI - ARMY
58. SEPOY RAKEE SENGAR - ARMY
59. SEPOY MOHIT KUMAR - ARMY
60. SEPOY TARA CHAND RANWA - ARMY
61. SEPOY VIKAS - ARMY
62. GUNNER HARI CHAND - ARMY 
63. PARATROOPER SUSHIL - ARMY

NAO SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)

1. COMMANDER RAHUL SHARMA - NAVY
2. VISHAL ME I - NAVY
3. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER NAVEEN RATHEE - NAVY
4. CAPTAIN BRIJESH NAMBIAR - NAVY
5. VEER SINGH YADAV - NAVY
6. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER VAIBHAV TYAGI - NAVY
7. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER HARSHUL BHAT - NAVY
8. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER HARDEEP SINGH - NAVY
9. COMMANDER RAJABABU SHARMA - NAVY 
10. AVINASH CHOUDHARY LS - NAVY
11. PAARS RANA ME I - NAVY

VAYU SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)
 

1. WING COMMANDER ANAND VINAYAK AGASHE - AIR FORCE
2. WING COMMANDER JASPREET SINGH SANDHU - AIR FORCE
3. WING COMMANDER AKSHAY ARUN MAHALE - AIR FORCE 
4. SQUADRON LEADER MAHIPAL SINGH RATHORE - AIR FORCE
5. JUNIOR WARRANT OFFICER VIKAS RAGHAV - AIR FORCE
6. SERGEANT ASHWANI KUMAR- AIR FORCE