President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday posthumously conferred the Shaurya Chakra upon Captain Deepak Singh of the 48 Rashtriya Rifles in recognition of his extraordinary bravery and sacrifice during a counter-terrorism operation in Assar, Doda, in August 2024. The honour was bestowed during Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2025, held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
Captain Deepak Singh, hailing from Uttarakhand, laid down his life while fighting terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir. Despite sustaining injuries during the encounter, he continued to battle with unflinching resolve and ultimately attained martyrdom while protecting the nation.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a heartfelt tribute to the fallen hero. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “In August 2024, during an encounter with terrorists, despite being injured, he showed unmatched courage and attained martyrdom while protecting the nation till his last breath. The military land of Uttarakhand is proud of this brave son.”
The Ministry of Defence announced that a total of six Kirti Chakras, including four posthumously, and 33 Shaurya Chakras, including seven posthumously, were awarded to personnel from the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces, and State/Union Territory Police.
The awards were presented for exceptional acts of bravery, selflessness, and disregard for personal safety during various high-risk operations. These included counter-terror and counter-insurgency missions in Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East, where terrorists were neutralised and arms recovered.
Additional gallantry was recognized among officers from the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. Naval personnel were honoured for anti-piracy missions and critical firefighting operations, while IAF officers were lauded for safely diverting aircraft from populated areas during emergencies. Officers from the CRPF were also decorated for their acts of courage in Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas.
