Team News Riveting
Raipur, July 5
Four personnel of CRPF’s elite CoBRA including an officer were awarded Kirti Chakra (posthumously) for anti-Maoist operation conducted in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh three years ago.
The bravehearts who were awarded India’s second-highest peacetime award after Ashok Chakra included Inspector Dilip Kumar Das, Head Constable Raj Kumar Yadava, Constable Bablu Rabha and Constable Sambhu Roy. They were deployed with the 210 CoBRA of the CRPF.
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presented Gallantry Awards at the Defence Investiture Ceremony-2024 (Phase-I) held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were the Vice President of India, Prime Minister of India and Union Minister for Defence.
The citation said on April 2, 2021, based on a specific input regarding the presence of Maoists in the jungle area under Tarrem police station in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, a joint special operation was planned and six strike teams were formed. On April 3, 2021, tropps observed Maoists movement and an intense barrage of gunfire and explosive assaults were unleashed by the Maoists. Amidst intense firing from armed Maoists, Head Constable Raj Kumar Yadava, Constable Sambhu Roy, Constable Bablu Rabha and others engaged the Maoists with relentless firepower, however, one CRPF personnel faced casualties.
The trio demonstrated remarkable bravery in retrieving the body of one CRPF personnel and evacuating the other trapped personnel. While advancing, Inspector Dilip Kumar Das, Constable Sambhu Roy and other DRG commandos displayed remarkable bravery, eliminating 4 to 5 Maoists and recovered the body of a Maoists along with 1 INSAS, 26 INSAS live rounds and three magazines. Thereafter, the troops advanced further, despite relentless assault from Maoists who were using BGLs and RPGs besides automatic weapons from all directions.
The Maoists intensified their firing, challenging the troops’ rear position. The troops demonstrated exceptional courage and coordination, engaging in a fierce encounter for over six hours and inflicting significant casualties on Maoists. However, Inspector Dilip Kumar Das, Head Constable Raj Kumar Yadava, Constable Bablu Rabha and Constable Sambhu Roy laid their supreme sacrifice for the motherland.
The citation said: In recognition of their most extraordinary and conspicuous gallantry, unflinching courage, indomitable will and supreme sacrifice, Inspector Dilip Kumar Das, Head Constable Raj Kumar Yadava, Constable Bablu Rabha and Constable Sambhu Roy are posthumously awarded “Kirti Chakra”.
