New Delhi: Havildar Hangpan Dada, who killed four intruding terrorists before laying down his life at a height of 13,000 feet in the harsh and icy Himalayan range of North Kashmir, has been bestowed with Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest peace-time Army award. Dada, 36, was honoured posthumously with the government announcing the award on sunday on the eve of 70th Independence Day.
Hero soldier killed four ultras by himself
For a man who loved to keep snakes as pets, alacrity had to be his second name. So when the call came on an icy Thursday night on May 26, Havildar Hangpan Dada reached for his trusty gun — terrorists were on the loose near Nawgaon in Kashmir — at 12,500 ft.
After an intense firefight, Dada had shot dead two terrorists and had killed another one in hand-to-hand combat before taking in a hail of bullets. His valiant act also resulted in the fourth terrorist’s death.
On India’s 70th Independence Day celebrations, Dada will be honoured with the Ashok Chakra — India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
And only a few months earlier on January 2, six terrorists infiltrated the Pathankot airbase. It took the courage of bomb disposal expert Lieutenant Colonel Niranjan Kumar and Corporal Gurusewak Singh to thwart the terrorists’ plans. The warrior duo will be conferred the Shaurya Chakra, besides nine others.
On Sunday, President Pranab Mukherjee approved one Ashok Chakra, 14 Shaurya Chakras, 63 Sena Medals (gallantry), two Nao Sena Medals and two Vayu Sena Medals in recognition of such acts of courage.
