Vir Chakra (VrC)

Subedar Maria Russel was a Platoon Commander of Alfa Company 5 Madras, located at Karainagar in Sri Lanka. On 26 November 1988 the Junior Commissioned Officer while leading a patrol intercepted two militants who instantaneously started firing. With exceptional courage and determination, Subedar Maria Russel gave hot pursuit and personally killed self-styled Lieutenant Colonel Insoor and self-styled Major Suri the two most dreaded militants of the area. He consistently displayed tenacity and leadership of high quality and showed utter disregard for his personal safety in the single-minded pursuit of completing the task by even going beyond the call of duty