Gallantry medals for Operation Sindoor to be announced on Independence Day

The citation shared by the government showed the acts of the personnel during Operation Sindoor - India’s successful response to the Pakistan-sponsored April 23 terror attack in Pahalgam.

Among the awardees are five personnel deployed at the sensitive Kharkhola border outpost in Jammu.

According to the citation, six personnel—Assistant Commandant Abhishek Srivastav, Head Constable Brij Mohan Singh, and Constables Bhupendra Bajpai, Rajan Kumar, Basavaraja Shivappa Sunkada, and Depeswar Barman—displayed exemplary courage under direct enemy assault. After the Indian Army launched Operation Sindoor, Pakistani forces positioned barely 200 meters from the Kharkhola post initiated heavy shelling using flat and high-trajectory weapons, followed by a drone attack.

“In the early hours of May 10, 2025, multiple Pakistani drones were spotted in the area. Upon hearing the humming sound, the troops took defensive positions. Under the command of Sub-Inspector Mohd Imtiyaz, they successfully neutralised one drone. However, a mortar shell—likely dropped by another drone—exploded just outside their bunker, causing serious injuries to Head Constable Brij Mohan Singh and four constables,” the citation stated.