President Droupadi Murmu Confers Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) on Corporal Vikky Pahade

954421 Corporal Vikky Pahade Communication Technician is on the posted strength of a Transportable Radar Unit with effect from 16 Oct 23. He was employed as per his trade duty at unit Op location Shahsitar (JK&L).

On 04 May 24, Corporal Vikky Pahade was detailed as armed escort towards collection of ration for the unit from Indian Army Field Supply Depot located 40 kms from the unit’s Op location. At around, 1759h, while returning back from the field supply depot, their vehicle was ambushed by three terrorists near Doba ridge at Shahsitar, 1.5 km short of the Unit Op location.

At the time of ambush, he was seated on the front seat of the vehicle as per his earmarked role. Being on the front seat, he had received heavy and concentrated small arms fire onto him and suffered grievous gunshot wounds in head, neck as well as chest. However, unmindful of his physical condition, he maintained his composure, situational awareness and opened retaliatory fire from his personal weapon (AK-103) onto one of the terrorists who was firing at their vehicle from higher ridges.  Because of his retaliatory fire, the terrorist had to hide which allowed the armed air warriors seated behind to open fire on terrorists in a coordinated manner. This brave act of Corporal Vikky Pahade resulted in providing a window of opportunity for rest of the air warriors to open retaliatory fire on the terrorists, thereby saving the precious lives of his team members and prevented other collateral damage to the service property. However, Corporal Vikky Pahade succumbed to his injuries later at Command hospital Udhampur.

For this act of exceptional courage displayed during life threating situation, Corporal Vikky Pahade Communication Technician is awarded with ‘Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) posthumously.