Col Santosh Babu likely to be posthumously awarded Mahavir Chakra on Republic Day

The government is all set to acknowledge the valour of Col Santosh Babu, who lost his life in a fight with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley clash. The Indian Army top brass has recommended that soldiers who took on Chinese troops in the Galwan valley clash should be awarded the war-time chakra series awards this Republic Day. The long list of personnel recommended for the gallantry awards at this Republic Day included the 16 Bihar Commanding Officer Colonel Santosh Babu who lost his life in the clash.

Colonel Santosh Babu, the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar who was killed in action along with 19 others in the Galwan clash last year, to be decorated with a posthumous Maha Vir Chakra on #RepublicDay. (That's a war-time decoration). pic.twitter.com/dd8rxsJAyl

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) January 25, 2021

The wartime Chakra series awards include highest Paramvir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra and Vir Chakra. The peacetime highest gallantry awards include Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra. The Galwan valley clash took place on June 15 last year when Indian troops led by Colonel Babu took on the Chinese troops near the patrolling point 14 area. India lost 20 troops in the fiercest clash between the two sides in a long time while the Chinese also suffered significant casualties. The clash led to hardening of India's stand, which has now allowed troops to use weapons during patrolling after the use of unorthodox weapons by Chinese troops.