Galwan valley clash hero Colonel Santosh Babu was honored posthumously with the second-highest gallantry award Maha Vir Chakra by the President of India on Tuesday during the defence investiture ceremony.
The wife and mother of the late officer received the award from President Ram Nath Kovind. Colonel Santosh Babu was conferred the gallantry medal for bravely resisting the Chinese troop attack while building an observation post in Galwan Valley in the Ladakh sector during the operation named ‘Snow Leopard’.
India lost 20 personnel in the clash between Indian and Chinese troops. The Chinese soldiers also sustained major casualties. The clash led to the hardening and stiffening of India’s stand, which has now permitted soldiers to use arms and weapons during patrolling after the use of weapons by the Chinese soldiers.
