Imphal: Lieutenant Colonel Maneo Francis PF of 21 Para (Special Forces), a native of Tadubi in Manipur’s Senapati district, has been awarded the Kirti Chakra for exceptional courage and leadership during a seven-day counter-insurgency operation in the state.
The gallantry award was announced on Independence Day 2026. The Kirti Chakra is among India’s highest peacetime military honours.
According to the official citation, Lieutenant Colonel Francis spent several months strengthening an intelligence network to track and map insurgent groups operating in Manipur. He also conducted specialised, mission-oriented training for his assault team following a series of major violent incidents in the region.
During the week-long operation, Francis led the elite team through challenging and high-risk conditions. The team established contact with heavily armed insurgents and offered them an opportunity to surrender, but the militants responded with sustained automatic weapons fire.
Francis then repositioned his team towards the northern flank of the insurgents’ hideout and neutralised an armed sentry.
The citation said the officer displayed exceptional personal courage when a concealed insurgent pinned down the assault team with continuous firing. Francis moved across exposed ground despite heavy incoming fire and engaged the gunman at close range, ultimately eliminating the threat.
His actions during the operation, according to the citation, demonstrated exceptional leadership, tactical acumen and disregard for personal safety in the face of extreme danger.