Ashok Chakra for AP’s braveheart

New Delhi: An Inspector of the Andhra Pradesh's counter-Maoist force was posthumously awarded Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award of the country, as India celebrated its 65th Republic Day on Sunday.

Inspector K L V S S H N V Prasad Babu, 33, was honoured for an anti-Maoist operation during which he had led an assault unit of Greyhounds (anti-Naxal force of Andhra Pradesh) near Andhra-Chhattisgarh border on April 16 last year. Prasad lost his life during the operation in which nine Maoists were killed and four commandos were rescued near the Chhattisgarh-Andhra Pradesh border. Babu, a native of Marturu village in Visakhapatnam district, joined the police department as a sub-inspector in 2004 and was subsequently promoted as an Inspector.

The award was received by Babu's father from President Pranab Mukherjee before the commencement of the Republic Day Parade. "Shri Prasad Babu exhibited most conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to duty and exemplary leadership in fighting the Maoists and made the supreme sacrifice," a government statement said.

Accepting the award, Babu's emotionally overwhelmed father K Venkata Ramana acknowledged the applause of the huge crowd with folded hands. After stepping down the dais, he greeted distinguished military officers present in the seating area.