President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday approved gallantry awards for defence personnel given every year on the occasion of Independence Day. Jammu and Kashmir Police officer Abdul Rashid Kalas has been awarded Kirti Chakra, second-highest peacetime gallantry award, posthumously.

Three from the Indian Army have been selected for Shaurya Chakra for showing extraordinary courage during counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir, the Defence Ministry said. Those receiving the honour are Lieutenant Colonel Krishan Singh Rawat from the elite Special Forces, Major Anil Urs and Havildar Alok Kumar Dubey.

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Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Vishak Nair has also been awarded the Shaurya Chakra.

Apart from them, thirty one Army personnel have been awarded the Sena (gallantry) medal.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has also decided to award 294 jawans for their bravery during the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh recently. The men will be awarded the Director General (DG) commendation for displaying bravery, ITBP said.

The border security force said that recommendations for awarding gallantry medals to 21 troops posted in this area have been sent to the government, PTI reported.