Indian Army martyrs who laid down their lives during the violent clashes that broke out with China last year will reportedly be honoured at the Republic Day parade 2021. The Indian troops had retaliated bravely when the Chinese troops refused to withdraw from a location near Patrolling Point 14.
In the Galwan Valley clash, 16 Bihar battalion’s Colonel B Santosh Babu along with at least four more Indian Army men who were martyred during the June 15 will be honoured posthumously on January 26. They will reportedly be awarded gallantry medals for their supreme sacrifice. 20 Indian soldiers had laid down their lives, but had inflicted severe casualties on the Chinese troops. The Chinese have remained tight lipped about the casualties, but report suggest that over 30 Chinese troops involved in the clash had either died or gone missing. The Defence Ministry has not made any official announcement on the medals, but sources tell OneIndia that two officers and three soldiers who fought the Chinese will be honoured.
The Indian Army soldiers had successfully stopped the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers from intruding into Indian territory and had also forced them to withdraw eventually. The clashes between Indian and Chinese troopers had continued for hours as the PLA soldiers had come equipped with sticks and spears and had also outnumbered Indian Army men. However, after a bitter struggle in which 20 Indian soldiers were martyred, victory was claimed.
