The sacrifices of the Galwan Valley war hero, the late Colonel Santosh Babu were recognised with the first-ever statue of his set up in Kodad town of Suryapet district in the presence of Santosh Babu’s parents Bikkumalla Upender and Manjula.
Nalgonda Parliament member and former Indian Air Force officer N. Uttam Kumar Reddy unveiled the statue and said as a soldier himself he understands the supreme sacrifice made by the late soldier while serving the nation. Mr. Reddy, who was a fighter pilot with the Indian Air Force (IAF) before joining politics, also recalled the discipline, dedication and values inculcated at the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakvasla.
Col. Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar regiment, was one of the 20 Indian troops who were martyred in a fierce hand-to-hand battle with Chinese soldiers on June 15, 2020, in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh. He was posthumously conferred with the prestigious gallantry medal, Mahavir Chakra for displaying exceptional courage and leadership to safeguard India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
