Shivaji Sodhi was busy with a routine training exercise at the 4th battalion of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) on the outskirts of Raipur on Friday evening when his sister telephoned to inform him that their father head constable Narayan Sodhi has been awarded Kirti Chakra posthumously. It was a solemn moment filled with pride for Shivaji Sodhi, who joined the state police as constable on compassionate grounds six months ago, and is currently undergoing training.

He was just 17 when his father Narayan Sodhi, a head constable in the Chhattisgarh police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) unit, was killed in an ambush by Maoists in Bijapur district in 2021.

Two more police personnel - sub-inspector Deepak Bhardwaj and head constable Shrawan Kashyap - who were killed in the same incident, have also been awarded Kirti Chakra for displaying exemplary courage while fighting Naxalites.

Bhardwaj and Sodhi were attached to the DRG - the state's frontline anti-Naxalites force, while Kashyap was part of the Special Task Force (STF).

My father is my hero and I feel proud. I shared the news with other trainees and friends," Shivaji told PTI over phone.

Sodhi was a native of Punoor village in Awapalli area of Bijapur district, which comes under Bastar division. His family currently lives in Bijapur town.