On the eve of India’s 79th Independence Day, the nation paused to honor an extraordinary group of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel whose actions during Operation Sindoor have become the stuff of legend. Sixteen BSF officers and jawans were awarded gallantry medals for what the government called “conspicuous bravery” and “unmatched valour,” their deeds a testament to the grit and resilience that define India’s first line of defense. The medals, announced on August 14, 2025, recognize acts of heroism that unfolded along the volatile border with Pakistan between May 7 and May 10, following a devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 dead, most of them tourists.
According to Hindustan Times, Operation Sindoor was India’s hard-hitting response to that attack, targeting terrorist and military facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation saw the BSF, alongside the three defense services, engage in intense firefights, drone warfare, and relentless artillery exchanges. It was during these fraught days that the sixteen awardees—among them deputy and assistant commandants, inspectors, head constables, and constables—etched their names into the annals of bravery.
The border posts of Jammu, particularly Kharkola and Karotana Khurd, became epicenters of the conflict. As The Print detailed, the Kharkola outpost, a mere 200 meters from the international border, was subjected to heavy shelling by Pakistani troops on the night of May 7-8, followed by a wave of drone attacks. The BSF team stationed there—Assistant Commandant Abhishek Srivastav, Head Constable Brij Mohan Singh, and Constables Depeswar Barman, Bhupendra Bajpai, Rajan Kumar, and Basavaraja Shivappa Sunkada—found themselves under direct and sustained enemy assault. When multiple Pakistani drones appeared again on May 10, the troops, led by Sub-Inspector Mohammed Imteyaj, managed to neutralize one. But tragedy struck when a mortar shell, likely dropped by another drone, exploded just outside their bunker, grievously injuring five jawans. Despite their wounds, the team continued to retaliate, with Assistant Commandant Srivastav risking his own safety to evacuate the injured under fire.
Sub-Inspector Imteyaj’s actions that morning would be his last; he succumbed to his injuries, as did Constable Deepak Chingakham. Both are to be decorated posthumously, their sacrifice immortalized not just in medals, but in the naming of a BSF post in Jammu after Imteyaj, according to Hindustan Times.
Elsewhere along the border, stories of courage played out with equal intensity. Sub-Inspector Vyas Dev and Constable Suddi Rabha, deployed at a forward post in Jammu, were entrusted with the critical—and perilous—task of replenishing ammunition for frontline troops. As they carried out their mission, an 82mm mortar shell exploded nearby, inflicting life-threatening injuries. SI Dev, whose left leg was later amputated, “remained conscious, stabilized himself, and bravely engaged in his given task, motivating his fellow soldiers,” as described in his citation. Rabha, suffering deep lacerations and multiple injuries, refused to yield, standing “shoulder-to-shoulder” with his commander. Their refusal to abandon their post, even as their own lives hung in the balance, exemplified the spirit of Operation Sindoor.
Critical resupply missions were a recurring theme. At Karotana Khurd, Assistant Sub-Inspector Rajappa B.T. and Constable Manohar Xalxo were tasked with delivering much-needed ammunition under heavy fire. As reported by The Print, a mortar shell exploded near their magazine, fatally injuring ASI Rajappa and wounding Xalxo. Despite their injuries, both men ensured the mission’s completion, a feat that likely saved countless lives at the embattled post.
Technological warfare was also at the fore. Assistant Sub-Inspector Udai Vir Singh, posted at Jabowal, found himself under intense enemy fire on May 10. Amidst the chaos, he destroyed a Pakistani surveillance camera, denying the enemy real-time monitoring of Indian troop movements. Even after sustaining a life-threatening shrapnel wound to his upper lip, Singh refused evacuation, pressing on to neutralize a Pakistani heavy machine gun nest. His actions, according to his citation, “ensured uninterrupted domination from the Indian side and inspired fellow troops.”
Leadership under fire was another hallmark of the operation. Assistant Commandant Alok Negi and his team at Forward Defence Line Mukhyari faced relentless shelling and machine-gun fire from May 7 to 10. Negi’s leadership, as recounted by Hindustan Times, saw him reposition personnel and mortar assets, coordinating precise retaliatory strikes for over 48 hours. His efforts resulted in zero casualties among his men and maintained operational dominance—a remarkable achievement under such conditions.
Deputy Commandant Ravindra Rathore, Inspector Devi Lal, Head Constable Sahib Singh, and Constable Kanwaraj Singh were also recognized for their operational brilliance and for saving a fellow jawan’s life under intense pressure. Their actions, as with so many others during Operation Sindoor, underscored the ethos of the BSF: resolve, teamwork, and a willingness to risk everything for comrades and country.
Operation Sindoor was not fought in isolation. As Hindustan Times reported, the operation was India’s response to the Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam, and it triggered fierce retaliation from across the border. Pakistani forces launched drones and loitering munitions against Indian military installations and civilian infrastructure, but these threats were largely neutralized by India’s robust multi-layered air defense network. BSF troops not only defended their posts but also bombed terror launchpads in Pakistan and destroyed posts of the Pakistan Rangers, disrupting infiltration attempts and inflicting significant damage on enemy positions.
The bravery on display extended beyond the BSF. Gallantry medals were also awarded to 128 personnel from Jammu and Kashmir Police, 20 from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and 14 from Chhattisgarh Police, reflecting the collective effort required to maintain security in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
In a statement released on social media, the BSF encapsulated the sentiment of the day: “This Independence Day, 16 Brave Seema Praharis (border guards) are being awarded Gallantry Medals for their conspicuous bravery & unmatched valour, for being resolute & steadfast during the Ops Sindoor. The medals are a testament to the Nation’s faith & trust reposed in India’s First Line of Defence: The Border Security Force.”
As the nation celebrates its independence, the stories of these sixteen BSF personnel serve as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made to secure that freedom. Their courage under fire, their refusal to abandon their posts, and their unwavering commitment to their comrades and country have set a standard that will inspire generations to come.
