{ ON DUTY DURING OP SINDOOR } Posthumous Vir Chakra for 2 BSF soldiers

The government on Thursday awarded Vir Chakra — India’s third-highest wartime honour — posthumously to two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel for their heroic act during Operation Sindoor. President Droupadi Murmu also approved 16 BSF personnel for the gallantry medal for their exceptional bravery during India's direct military response to the Pahalgam terror strike.

- Prawesh Lama

The two BSF men — Sub Inspector Mohammed Imteyaz and Constable Deepak Chingakham — were on duty at border outpost Kharkola in Jammu, barely 200 metres from the International Border. “On the intervening night of May 9 and 10, when rogue drones approached the post to drop explosives and guide fire mortar, Constable Chingakham moved along with his post com-manger, Imteyaz, who was orga-nising his troops to neutralise the drone. A mortar shell exploded, causing injuries to the two personnel along with others," a citation said. Despite his critical condition, Chingkham refused evacu