New Delhi, Mar 23 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee Saturday conferred 14 Shaurya Chakras - three of them posthumously - on armed forces and paramilitary personnel for conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and devotion to duty.
The Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan resonated with loud applause as the president gave away medals to soldiers and paramilitary personnel.
The ceremony was attended, among others, by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh. The gathering also included senior officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force, including Army chief Gen Bikram Singh and the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K Browne.
The president, who is supreme commander of the armed forces, also gave away 18 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, two Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, two Bars to Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and 17 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals.