In 2008, after obtaining intelligence regarding presence of 10–15 armed terrorists at village HeingangHeibiMakhong, Imphal East District, Maj D Sreeram Kumar launched ‘ops’ to eliminate the terrorists. Reaching the site, he laid multiple ambushes on the escape routes of the terrorists. 
Around 1830hrs, the section under Maj D Sreeram Kumar observed suspicious movement of armed terrorists moving towards the nearby ridge. On being challenged, the terrorists opened indiscriminate heavy automatic fire and pinned down the section. The officer miraculously missed certain death but showing exemplary courage and presence of mind, engaged the terrorists with accurate fire and killed two terrorists on the spot. In the ensuring fierce encounter upholding the traditions of the Indian Army, showing leadership of the highest order and unmindful of personal safety, Maj D Sreeram Kumar directed his buddy to provide covering fire and with utter disregard to his own safety dashed down and closed in crawling and killed the two terrorists at point blank range. A fifth terrorist was killed by his buddy after vigorous search. For displaying inspirational leadership, conspicuous gallantry under hostile fire and single handled eliminating four terrorists, Maj D Sreeram Kumar was awarded ‘Ashok Chakra’