Kirti Chakra for Jadhav, Harshpal

New Delhi: The brave hearts of Indian Army will be honoured with gallantry awards on the 73rd Independence Day on Thursday. Indian Army's Sapper Prakash Jadhav of 1 Rashtriya Rifles (Mahar) will be conferred Kirti Chakra (posthumously) for his gallant role in an operation in Jammu and Kashmir. CRPF Deputy Commandant Harshpal Singh has also been awarded Kirti Chakra.

Eight Army personnel will also be conferred Shaurya Chakra, five of them posthumously. Eight more Army personnel will be conferred with Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 90 will be conferred Sena Medals (Gallantry) and four members of Operation Rakhshak will be conferred Mention in Dispatches.

Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who spent nearly 60 hours in Pakistan's captivity after Balakot airstrike in February, will also be conferred with Vir Chakra on the Independence Day.

The five Mirage-2000 fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force who dropped bombs on the terror facility of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Pakistan are being named for the Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry to be announced on the eve of Independence Day, official sources said.

The fighter planes had destroyed the JeM camp in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's province after entering Pakistani airspace for the first time in 48 years following a suicide bombing claimed by the terror group.

Meanwhile, 56 personnel have been awarded Fire Service Medals this year. Of these, President's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry have been awarded to one personnel, President's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service to eight personnel and Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service to 47 personnel.

Forty-four personnel have also been awarded Home Guard and Civil Defence Medals. Of these, President's HG and CD Medal for Distinguished Service have been awarded to eight personnel and Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Meritorious Service to 36 personnel.

Announced twice a year - first on Republic Day and then on Independence Day, the order of precedence of the awards is Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.