NOT TO BE PUBLISHED/
BROADCASTED
BEFORE 2359 HOURS 14 AUGUST 2015
SHAURYA CHAKRA
FOR BRAVERY AND COURAGE WHILE
EVACUATING INDIAN & FOREIGN
NATIONALS DURING ‘OPS RAHAT’
FROM YEMEN
CDR
MILIND MOHAN MOKASHI (04755-F)
Cdr Mohan
Milind Mokashi, Commanding Officer INS Sumitra, while carrying out Anti-Piracy
Operations in the Gulf of Aden, on 31 Mar 15 received a directive to proceed
for ‘Operation Rahat’ to evacuate thousands of Indian and Foreign nationals,
from the war- ravaged Yemen.
On
receiving the Op Directive, Cdr Mokashi immediately took stock of the
challenging situation and proceeded to Aden Harbour. While entering Aden
Harbour on the night of 31 Mar 15, he observed heavily armed Houthi rebels
patrolling harbour in boats and also stationed on jetty. Additionally, he also
observed occurrence of fierce fighting and air strikes by Saudi led coalition.
To ensure safety of hundreds of innocent Indian evacuees comprising ladies,
children and elderly persons, the officer immediately deployed armed boats
manned by sailors in close proximity of the ship and also created a cordon of
the ship’s Quick Reaction Team (MARCOS) around the evacuees, to neutralise any
incoming threat. In display of resolute courage he personally lead from front
in the prevailing challenging situation and positioned himself at the
embarkation point, so as to take positive control of the safety boats and quick
reaction teams. Braving the heavy firing and shelling, the officer took charge
of the situation and ensured safe embarkation of Indian and Foreign evacuees
amid heavy cross firing. The officer also ensured that during the entire
operation the ship remained in the highest state of readiness with ship’s
weapon systems manned to counter any eventuality.
While
executing embarkation of evacuees in darkness with continuous occurrence of
bombing, shelling and small arms fire, the officer faced a tense situation
wherein few Houthi rebels suddenly approached evacuee cordon. The officer in
the face of active hostility used mix of deterrence, diplomacy, and tact to
diffuse the explosive situation and ensured safe evacuation of the stranded
Indians and Foreign nationals. His brave efforts resulted in successful
evacuation of 1621 evacuees, during five different operations, which he
undertook from the Port of Aden, Port Ash Shihr and Port Al Hodeidah. The
officer’s inspirational leadership during fog of war ensured that no untoward
incident took place in the war zone which could have spiralled into adverse
international ramifications.
Cdr
Milind Mohan Mokashi, thus displayed, unparalleled valour, conspicuous
gallantry, bold and daring decisive actions beyond the call of duty, under
heavy firing and shelling at war ravaged Yemen, which resulted in the
successful evacuation of 1621 Indian and foreign evacuees. For this
conspicuous act of personal bravery Cdr Milid Mohan Mokashi, has been awarded
of Shaurya Chakra.
NAO
SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)
CAPTAIN
RAJESH DHANKHAR (03587-A)
On 30 Mar 15,
Captain Rajesh Dhankhar, Commanding Officer INS Mumbai, was tasked to undertake
mass evacuation of Indian nationals from war-torn Yemen as part of ‘Ops
Rahat’.The officer
in the face of hostility, violence, fierce fighting in the Port of Aden,
undertook most daring execution of operations, leading to the safe evacuation
of 441 Indians and foreign nationals.
On
arriving off Aden, Captain Rajesh Dhankhar received reports of heavy shelling
in the Port area, with warships also coming under fire. On receiving this
specific input, the officer positioned the ship’s Force Protection Team in
boats and on jetty to provide necessary fire cover to the evacuees. He ensured
that all exit / entry routes to the evacuee enclosure on the jetty were
strategically plugged so as to ensure their safety from any threat. Undeterred
by the prevailing security scenario ashore, amidst heavy bombing, shelling and
small arms fire, the officer led his team from the front and continued his
efforts to evacuate stranded personnel even during dark hours. He showed utter
disregard to his personal safety and displayed raw courage during entire
evacuation operation which was fraught with danger and risk due to continuous
bombarding and firing.
While
evacuation operation was in last phase of completion, it was brought to the
notice of the Officer that number Indian Nationals were still stranded at the
jetty entrance awaiting assistance. Caring little for the inherent dangers in
evacuation during dark hours, that too at an unknown location, he acted
swiftly, reached the location in cover of darkness and laid an effective cordon
of the ship’s Quick Reaction Team around the stranded personnel. His brave
effort resulted in successful evacuation of 262 Indians and 179 foreign
nationals under extreme hostile conditions.
Captain
Rajesh Dhankhar (03587-A), displayed dauntless courage, most conspicuous
gallantry, bold and daring actions under most challenging circumstances,
wherein, he successfully accomplished evacuation from the combat zone of Yemen
and brought laurels to the nation. For his rare tactical skills, unmatched
professional acumen and conspicuous bravery at the face of grave danger,
Captain Rajesh Dhankhar (03587-A), has been awarded Nao Sena
Medal (Gallantry).
NAO SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)
CAPTAIN PRADEEP SINGH (03702-N)
Captain
Pradeep Singh has been in command of INS Tarkash since 21 Jan 15. When the ship
was deployed for Op Rahat in Apr 15, the officer played a sheet anchor role in
the meticulous planning and a most daring execution of operations leading to
the safe evacuation of around 600 civilians of 18 different nationalities from
AI Hodeidah and Aden harbours in the face of hostility and the back drop of
violence and fighting ashore, in the port and on the jetty. Mindful of the poor
security situation and always wanting to be in a position to exit the combat
zone, the officer decided neither to go alongside, nor anchor the ship and
instead remained underway and maintained constant movement, stopping only to
embark civilians from boats.
Apart
from evacuating the above mentioned people, the officer improvised the
available information and resources and evacuated the body of the first Indian
casualty in Yemen conflict in a make shift coffin. The officer also evacuated
10 nurses who were stuck in heavy cross firing, directing them to the safer,
though farther little Aden oil terminal jetty and using local boats to bring
them onboard. The evacuation operation was fraught with extreme danger and risk
due to continuous bombarding and firing near the port area.
The
officer calmly faced a tense situation when encountered with 2-3 boats with
AK-47 armed Yemenese closing the ship. The officer directed both the armed RIBs
to intercept these armed boats, conveyed relevant RoE to the OI/C in each boat
and brought to bear greater force on to these armed boats. Thereafter with a
mix of diplomacy, deterrence, tact, force and hope the potentially explosive
situation was defused and the armed boats were made to return to harbour. In
the face of opposition and active hostility, the officer led the troops from
the front being physically present at the evacuation point.
He
ensured a very robust Force Protection Measures organisation onboard
judiciously using all assets onboard including utilising both the RIBs, VBSS
team, sniper and Prahar. The very effective baggage screening organisation
onboard resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 magazines with 56 rounds, several
empty cartridges and knives from the baggage of embarked evacuees.
In the face
of these threats, the officer displayed extreme tenacity, bravery and courage
to rally his men to achieve a feat, which the Navy is proud of. His maturity,
composure in the face of rebel activities and valour have been vital to the
mission’s success and have boosted the country’s and the Indian Navy’s image.
For this conspicuous act of personal bravery in leading his ship’s teams in an
exemplary manner under fire in the combat zone off Yemen, Captain Pradeep Singh
has
been awarded Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry).
________________________________________________________________________
DKS/AK
51/2015