Young fighter pilot from Manipur, Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik, is among the nine Indian Air Force officers who have been conferred the ‘Vir Chakra’ on Thursday, for targeting the headquarters of terrorist groups in Muridke and Bahawalpur, as well as Pakistan military assets, during Operation Sindoor.
Altogether, 36 air warriors of Operation Sindoor were conferred with gallantry awards that include nine Vir Chakras, one Shaurya Chakra, and 26 Vayu Sena Medals.
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, approved 127 gallantry awards and 40 distinguished service awards to the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on the eve of Independence Day 2025. These include four Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, 16 Shaurya Chakras, two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 58 Sena Medals (Gallantry), six Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), 26 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry), seven Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals, nine Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, and 24 Yudh Seva Medals, according to the PIB, New Delhi.
The President has also approved 290 Mention-in-Despatches personnel of the Indian Army, five of the Indian Navy, 167 of the Indian Air Force, and three of the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB).
