On Monday, June 8, 2026, at the Defence Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu consoled the mother of Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar as she received his posthumous Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award. The moment — the mother breaking down on stage and the President stepping forward to hold and comfort her — drew visible emotion from senior military officers, ministers and families of other awardees.
The official citation praised Sepoy Prabhakar for “displaying exceptional courage and absolute devotion to duty,” saying he eliminated two terrorists at close range before laying down his life. Prabhakar was serving with the 1st Battalion, Rashtriya Rifles, and belonged to the Mahar Regiment. He was martyred on July 6, 2024, during an anti-terror operation in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the citation and accounts from the operation, Prabhakar’s unit acted on intelligence about terrorists hiding in the area and reports that civilians were being held hostage. During the ensuing gunfight he advanced under heavy fire and killed one terrorist at close range. When a civilian came under threat he reportedly shielded the person with his own body, continued fighting despite serious injuries, and helped the team eliminate a second terrorist, enabling the civilian’s rescue before succumbing to his wounds.
At the ceremony, President Murmu presented seven Kirti Chakras — two of them posthumous — along with 15 Vir Chakras and 29 Shaurya Chakras. Other notable awardees included Indian Air Force Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, an astronaut-designate for India’s Gaganyaan mission, and Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari of the Sikkim Scouts, who was posthumously honoured for bravery in high-altitude operations.
The investiture, an annual recognition of military valour and service, highlighted both individual sacrifice and the families who bear its cost, underscoring the human toll behind the medals and citations.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/watch-president-murmu-comforts-martyrs-mother-at-kirti-chakra-ceremony-14020458.html
Category: India
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Publish Date: 2026-06-09 12:28:00
