New Delhi: Five Delhi policemen who were killed in action during the terrorist attack in Parliament in 2001, were on October 29 decorated with Kirti Chakra, the nation's second highest gallantry award, in the Defence investiture which for the first time included a large number of police, para-military personnel and commandos of the elite Special Protection Group.

As the widows of the five Delhi policemen went to receive the decoration from President APJ Abdul Kalam they received a standing ovation that reverberated in the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan where the ceremony was held.

In all, the President gave away seven Kirti Chakra, six of them posthumously, 12 Param Vishisht Seva medals (PVSM), 18 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals and 38 Shaurya Chakras.

The lone surviving recipient of the Kirti Chakra Maj Subhash Chand Rana of 18 Rashtriya Rifles was decorated for single-handedly killing five terrorists in Surankote area of Jammu and Kashmir.

The other Kirti Chakra for Maj Avinash Singh Bhadauria, who made the supreme sacrifice after killing two terrorists in Doda district, was received by his wife Lt Shalini Bhadauria.

Among those decorated with PVSM, include Vice Admiral Arun Prakash heading the country's first ever Tri-Service command at Andaman, Air Marshal Michael McMahon AOC- in-C Western Air Command, Lt Gen O S Lohchab Director General military intelligence.

PTI