Vir Chakra (VrC)

On 18 January 1989, Second Lieutenant Amardeep Singh Bedi, while carrying out a search of the jungle adjacent to a lagoon in Sri Lanka, spotted few militants trying to cross the lagoon at a distance of 700 metres. With a view to cutting off the escape route, he manoeuvred his boat to close in on the militants. He engaged the escaping militants and succeeded in killing one, possibly killing or injuring three others and thus prevented the militants form escaping.

While Second Lieutenant Bedi was moving through a narrow channel another group of 10 to 15 militants waiting to cross the lagoon brought down a heavy volume of fire including General Purpose Machine Gun fire on his boat, which was barely 70 metres away from the bank. During the exchange of fire, Second Lieutenant Bedi and two Other Ranks were hit and succumbed to their injuries. 

Throughout the operation, Second Lieutenant Bedi displayed initiative, conspicuous courage, leadership qualities and devotion to duty. The plan made by him succeeded in effectively confining the militants to the small jungle strip and his gallant action prevented their escape through the lagoon.