Imphal, August 14 2010: Major Laishram Jyotin Singh of the Army Medical Corps has been posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the highest gallantry award during peace time.

Major Singh, a security official on deputation at the Indian Embassy in Kabul, was killed while fighting the terrorists who attacked the mission building on Feb 26 this year.

Maj Singh is among the 114 personnel from the armed forces, paramilitary and police forces, who have been named for the President's Independence Day awards, a government statement said in Delhi today.

President has awarded Ashoka Chakra to (Late) Major Laishram Jyotin Singh (posthumous) and two Kirti Chakras (Posthumous) to Capt Davinder Singh Jass and Shri Vinod Kumar Choubey, Superintendent of Police, Chhattisgarh on the eve of Independence Day.

Two other Army officers from Manipur were among many others from all over India who received different Army awards.

Maj Thongam Jotin Singh of 21st Bn Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) was one of two officers who have been awarded Shauriya Chakra.

Lt Col Thangjam Tikendra Singh of Grenadiers/16 Assam Rifles is also one of two personnel who have been awarded Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry).

(Late) Maj Laishram Jyotin Singh was born to Laishram Markando Singh and Laishram Ongbi Ibeyaima Devi of Nambol Awang Leikai, Bishnupur district on 14 May 1972 and was schooled in Manipur.

He was the third of four siblings�two brothers and two sisters.

His eldest sister is at present serving as a doctor, his second elder sister is teaching at Oriental College as a part-time lecturer.

His younger brother Boing is teaching at ITI, Guwahati as an Assistant Professor.

His father Markando is retired Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture.

(Late) Maj Laishram Jyotin is the first Army officer from Manipur being awarded Ashoka Chakra posthumously.

When our reporter went to meet his family at Nambol, they were unaware of Jyotin having been awarded Ashoka Chakra.

He was a meritorious student of Manipur Public School and he chose a career in medicine.

He graduated from Regional Institute of Medical science at Imphal in the year 1996.After a stint of medical residency, he acquired Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine from the reputed Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala in the year 2001 .

He was commissioned in the Army Medical Corps on 15 Feb 2003 as a Short Service Commissioned Officer and was granted Permanent Commission on April 26, 2007.He had served as a medical officer in a High Altitude location under Project Vartak and in a Military Hospital in counterinsurgency operations Area for a combined period of over six years in his short but illustrious military service.

The officer was selected on merit for deputation to Indian Medical Mission in Kabul, Afghanistan where he was stationed since February 13, 2010.Being a single, he is survived by his parents who live in his native place Nambol Awang Leikai, Bishnupur, Manipur.

At 0630 hrs of February 26, 2010, a guarded residential compound of Indian Embassy in Kabul, housing six army medical officers, four paramedics and two other Army officers of the English Language Training Team (ELTT) were suddenly attacked by heavily armed and determined terrorist suicide bombers.

A terrorist, after detonating a Suicidal Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SVBIED) resulting in the death of three security guards, entered the compound to kill any survivors.

The terrorist proceed to fire burst of Kalshnikov rounds into the individual rooms and started throwing hand grenades.

In the melee, five unarmed officers took shelter in one of the rooms which was subjected to grenade attack and the fire on its roof spread consequently to the bathroom where another group of five officers were sheltered.

On hearing shouts of the five officers, Maj Laishram Jytoin Singh crawled out from under the debris of his room.

Maj Laishram Jyotin Singh charged with bare hands at the armed terrorist and pinned him down to ensure that the terrorists could no longer lob more grenades or direct fire at the officers cornered in a burning room.

He continued to grapple with armed terrorist and did not let him go till the terrorist panicked and detonated his suicide vest, resulting in the instantaneous death of the terrorist and martyrdom of Maj Laishram Jyotin Singh.

Maj Laishram Jyotin Singh gave up his life for the sake of five of his colleagues, one of whom unfortunately was still charred to death, and another succumbed to his injuries five days later.

His sacrifice, in addition, also saved the lives of two officers, and four paramedics and two Afghan civilians still alive within the compound.

For his act of exemplary courage, grit, selflessness and valour in the face of a terrorist attack, resulting in his sacrifice and saving 10 of his colleagues, Major Laishram Jyotin Singh is recommended for the award of Ashok Chakra (Posthumous) .

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