Shaurya Chakra for IAF pilot who flew chopper hit by Naxal bullets

An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot who flew his helicopter through a hail of bullets fired by Naxals and safely landed the damaged aircraft while evacuating security forces from a deeply forested

An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot who flew his helicopter through a hail of bullets fired by Naxals and safely landed the damaged aircraft while evacuating security forces from a deeply forested area in Chhattisgarh is among those awarded gallantry medals on the eve of Independence Day.

Wing Commander V K Singh flew a Mi8/17 helicopter in a mission in December 2011 to evacuate CRPF personnel from a Naxal-infested area and managed to bring back the aircraft even after it was badly hit by ground fire from automatic weapons.

The Shaurya Chakra for the aviator is among the 62 gallantry awards approved by the President for armed forces personnel and members of paramilitary forces. In all,15 Shaurya Chakras,one Bar to Sena Medal,42 Sena Medals,three Nao Sena Medals and a Vayu Sena Medal were announced.

The other awardees include a Navy officer,Lt Sailesh Kumar Tyagi who led an assault team in the Gulf of Aden in the dead of the night to rescue a merchant vessel that was under attack from pirates in September last year.

No Ashok Chakra was announced this year.