B. Santosh Babu

Early and personal life A native of Suryapet in Telangana in India, Babu was the only son of Bikkumalla Upender, a retired manager with the State Bank of India, and his wife Manjula. From 1988 to 1993, during his class I to class V years, he studied in Sri Saraswathi Shishumandir School at Luxettipet in Mancherial district. The couple had a daughter Abhigna (aged nine at her father's death) and a son Anirudh (aged four). His family resided in Delhi.

Army career On 27 November 2000, He was commissioned as a lieutenant in 16 Bihar on 10 December 2004, one of 105 successful cadets. After passing out, he was posted to Jammu and Kashmir state.

Babu was promoted to captain on 10 December 2006, followed by promotion to major on 10 December 2010. He attended the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington. During his service, he was attached to the Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu and Kashmir, and also served with the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the ongoing Kivu conflict. During his posting in the Congo, Babu was described as kind and generous towards local residents, assisting them with medical and other needs. After serving as a divisional officer and Instructor Class "B" at the NDA, he was appointed a GSO I at the HQ of 35 Infantry Brigade. The PLA admitted the death of at least four of its soldiers.

Babu's body was flown by military aircraft to the military airport at Hakimpet in Telangana on 17 June. From there, his remains were driven to his family's farm at Kesaram village in Suryapet. His body was cremated with full military honours on 18 June, with his father lighting the funeral pyre. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, his funeral was attended by thousands of mourners from the area, with police on hand to ensure distancing and hygiene were maintained.

Following Babu's death, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao announced the state government would award his family an ex gratia payment of , along with a residential plot and a Group-I government job for his wife Santoshi. The chief minister also announced the state would award each to the families of the 19 other soldiers who had been killed. CM Chandrasekhar Rao visited Santosh Babu's home at Suryapet June 22 to give the strength and to assure the support of Telangana Government. His widow and mother received the decoration on his behalf at an investiture ceremony on 23 November. Babu's full citation reads as follows:

Decorations

Maha Vir Chakra(posthumous)Special Service MedalSainya Seva Medal(clasp for Jammu and Kashmir)High Altitude Service MedalVidesh Seva Medal9 Years Long Service MedalUN Mission in Congo Medal