Operation Sindoor: 2 BSF personnel awarded Vir Chakra posthumously; 16 others to get gallantry medal

NEW DELHI: Two BSF martyrs will be conferred Vir Chakra and 16 other personnel, police gallantry medals for having fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces during Operation Sindoor , successfully defending sensitive border posts in Jammu and Kashmir and destroying enemy posts and their surveillance equipment in firm retaliatory action.

Both the Vir Chakra awardees -- late Sub-Inspector Mohd Imteyaj and late Constable Deepak Chingakham -- will be honoured for valiantly defending the highly-sensitive border outpost Kharkola in Jammu, which is barely 200 m from the international border, against intense shelling and drone attacks by the enemy. BSF troops led by post commander Imteyaj mounted a precise and resolute retaliation, inflicting heavy damages to the counterpart post and their gun positions. During the wee hours of May 10, Imteyaj spotted rogue drones intruding over Kharkola with an intent to drop explosive payloads or guide mortar fire, and tactically moved out from the bunker and reorganised his troops to successfully neutralise an enemy drone. Constable Deepak Chigakham moved along with his 'buddy' Imteyaz. However a mortal shell, likely dropped by the drone, exploded, causing grievous splinter injuries to Imteyaz, Deepak and two others. Not the ones to give up, both Imteyaz and Deepap continued fighting. While Imteyaz motivated the troops, Deepak crawled unaided to the morcha and held his position. Both the bravehearts were later evacuated to Army hospital in Jammu but succumbed to their injuries.

The home ministry meanwhile announced that 16 BSF personnel – Assistant Commandants (ACs) Abhishek Srivastav and Alok Negi; Deputy Commandant (DC) Ravindra Rathore; Inspector Devi Lal; Sub-Inspector (SI) Vyas Dev; Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) Udai Vir Singh and Rajappa BT; Head Constables (HCs) Brij Mohan Singh and Sahib Singh; and Constables (CT) Bhupendra Kumar Bajpai, Rajan Kumar, Basavaraja Shivappa Sunkada, Depeswar Barman, Suddi Rabha, Kanwaraj Singh and Manohar Xalxo – will be conferred medals for five separate gallant actions undertaken between May 7 and 10 on the international border in J&K. Braving injuries and high-risk challenges, the honoured ‘Seema Praharis’ had challenged the adversary with precision strikes, helped replenish ammunition supplies and ensured that their fellow BSF personnel and posts were safe.

Seven of the 16 gallantry medal awardees are being honoured as well for their valiant action in Kharkola outpost. As AC Abhishek Srivastav, along with HC Brij Mohan Singh and constables Bhupendra Bajpai, Rajan Kumar, Basavaraja Shivappa Sunkada and Depeswar Barman, retaliated against heavy shelling from Pakistan, even neutralising one of their drones, an enemy mortar shell exploded just outside of the morcha, causing grievous injuries to Singh, Barman, Bajpai, Kumar and Sunkada. AC Srivastav, who was under probation training, fearlessly rushed towards the injured post commander and jawans and managed their evacuation.

AC Alok Negi, during intense enemy fire at FDL Mukhyari from May 7 to 20, 2025, led defensive action, repositioned personnel and mortar assets and coordinated precise retaliatory strikes on key enemy posts. Constables Chowdhury and Waghmare executed relentless and accurate fire, significantly blunting enemy positions.

ASI Udai Vir Singh, during a heavy assault by Pakistan on BOP Jabowal, Jammu Sector on May 10, 2025, successfully destroyed a Pakistani surveillance camera, denying real-time monitoring of BOP’s and troops movement. Despite sustaining a life-threatening shrapnel wound to his upper lip from HMG fire, he refused evacuation and continued engaging the enemy, neutralising their HMG nest.
SI Vyas Dev and Constable Suddi Rabha deployed in forward posts in Jammu area were detailed for replenishment of ammunition to forward troops. During this risk prone mission, an enemy 82 mortar shell exploded near them causing multiple splinter injuries to both. Dev remained conscious, stabilised himself and, along with Suddi, continued the mission. Dev's left leg had to be amputated later.

Deputy commandant Ravindra Rathore and his team — Inspector Devi Lal, HC Sahib Singh and constable Kanwaraj Singh — successfully implemented an operation for the safety of a BSF Jawan whose life was in peril.

During a coordinated assault by Pakistani troops on May 9-10 on BSF BOPs Karotana Khurd, Karotana Forward and Suchetgarh, BOP Karotana Khurd reported a critical shortage of AGS ammunition. ASI(GD) Rajappa B T and CT(GD) Manohar Xalxo undertook the risky mission to resupply ammunition but a mortar shell exploded near the magazine, grievously injuring Rajappa and wounding Xalxo’s right hand. Still, both completed the task.