New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday awarded Mahavir Chakra posthumously to Col Santosh Babu for resisting the Chinese Army attack while establishing an observation post in the face of the enemy in Galwan valley in the Ladakh sector during Operation Snow Leopard. His mother and wife receive the award from President.

Twenty Indian Army personnel laid down their lives in the fierce hand-to-hand combat on June 15 in Galwan Valley, an incident that marked the most serious military conflicts between the two sides in decades.

Read: https://24x7liveindia.com/group-captain-abhinandan-varthaman-awarded-vir-chakra

Late Col B Santosh Babu, CO 16 Bihar, an Alumnus of 105 course, of National Defence Academy (NDA) attained martyrdom in the line of duty in a clash with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley of Eastern Ladakh on the night of 15/16 June 20. His undaunted courage, leadership and commitment in an unprecedented scenario is the trademark of an ex-NDA officer.

Col Babu has also been an instructor at NDA from Jul 2010 to Dec 2011. His name was inscribed with full military honours on the sacred walls of Hut of Remembrance in golden letters adding him to the elite league of ‘ex-NDA Brave Hearts’.

President Kovind presents Maha Vir Chakra to Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, 16th Battalion, Bihar Regiment (Posthumous). He displayed exemplary leadership and astute professionalism. He showed conspicuous bravery in the face of enemy and made supreme sacrifice for the nation. pic.twitter.com/LkYCsXPSmt

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 23, 2021