New Delhi: A Border Security Force (BSF) constable has become the first security forces personnel to be awarded the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Commendation Disc for his role in Operation Sindoor. On Friday, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi presented the Commendation Disc to Constable Harvinder Singh of SP Coy, 109 Bn BSF.
The BSF’s role during Operation Sindoor has been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai. The latter, while speaking on the exceptional contribution made by India’s security forces said: “I salute every individual of the Air Force, Navy, Army, and BSF. Their courage is the armour of our sovereignty.”
During a joint briefing, the DGMO made a powerful statement while praising the BSF. “BSF was an equal participant in our response. From their DG to their Prahari at the BOP — they stood shoulder to shoulder with us,” Lt Gen Ghai said.
According to officials, the COAS Commendation Disc was in recognition of the exceptional prowess, dedication and hard work of Harvinder Singh in the rapid deployment of 81 MM Mortars at various locations at a lightning speed.
“Showcasing exceptional skills & sublime training standards, Harvinder Singh was prompt and precise in calculations of firing data, thus rendering our defences to be operationally ready to engage the designated targets during Operation Sindoor,” the citation reads.
The BSF – also known as India’s First Line of Defence – was put to the test on the night of May 8. Around 11pm, a group of heavily armed terrorists attempted to infiltrate Indian territory in the Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir, supported by direct fire from the Pakistan Rangers’ Dhandhar post.
Thanks to its advanced surveillance grid and rapid response teams, the BSF detected the movement and launched a precise counter-operation. Seven terrorists were neutralised before they could breach the boundary. In a calibrated response, BSF troops targeted and destroyed enemy assets, including the BMG bunker at Dhandhar. This was confirmed by surveillance footage.
Again on May 9, in response to unprovoked Pakistani firing on BSF posts in Jammu, the force struck deep, destroying a terrorist launch pad at Looni in District Sialkot (Pakistan), inflicting a significant blow to enemy infrastructure.
