President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious ‘Kirti Chakra’ award posthumously to Sudip Sarkar, a BSF constable from Tripura, at the Defence Investiture Ceremony-2023 held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 9. Sarkar was killed during an operation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara in November 2020.
Sarkar was part of a patrol-cum-Ambush team along the Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) on the LoC, Kupwara, Kashmir, when he observed armed infiltrators inching towards AIOS. He engaged the terrorists, but they retaliated with a heavy volume of fire from an elevated position on the ridge with ample cover. The BSF constable was severely wounded due to bullet and grenade blast injuries but continued to engage the terrorists in a fierce gun battle. In hand-to-hand combat, he killed one terrorist but succumbed to his injuries.
Sarkar displayed conspicuous gallantry, heroism, selflessness and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in the highest traditions of BSF. His sacrifice was recognized at the highest level, and he was conferred Kiriti Chakra posthumously.
The President of India presented the award to Rumpa Sarkar, widow of the martyr, at the Defence Investiture Ceremony-2023. Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were the Vice President of India, Prime Minister and Union Minister for Defence.
The Kirti Chakra is the third highest peacetime military award and is given for conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage, and extreme devotion to duty. The award is presented by the President of India and is second only to the Ashoka Chakra and the Param Vir Chakra in precedence. The Kirti Chakra is awarded to military personnel and civilians for conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy or other extraordinary circumstances.
