Independence Day: 824 police, paramilitary personnel awarded medals

NEW DELHI: A total of 824 central and state forces police personnel were today awarded gallantry and other service medals on the eve of Independence Day.

The top honour of Presidents Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG) has been given to three Punjab police officials, including slain SP Baljit Singh, who participated in the operation during the July 27 Gurdaspur attack in which three heavily armed militants were killed.

Apart from Singh's colleagues Inspector Balbir Singh and Head Constable Tara Singh, Meghalaya police DSP T C Chacko has also been honoured with the top medal.

A maximum of 64 Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) have been received by country's largest paramilitary force CRPF, largely for operations in the Left Wing Extremism hit states.

The central force has got maximum bravery awards among all police forces in the country for the last over six years now.

Central Reserve Police Forces' martyred Second-in-Command rank officer H K Jha also became the lone paramilitary officer to have been decorated with the 'Shaurya Chakra', a military medal, for displaying gallant action in Bihar last year to eliminate some top Maoist leaders.

Two Jammu and Kashmir police constables Mohd Shafi Sheikh and Reyaz Ahmed Lone have also been decorated with the 'Shaurya Chakra' posthumously for undertaking action against militants in the Valley.

Police personnel who have been awarded the PMG include 18 from Jharkhand, 15 from Uttar Pradesh, 14 from Jharkhand and eight from Meghalaya among others.

The President's police medal for distinguished service has been given to 76 officers and police medal for meritorious service has been accorded to 595 personnel, a Home Ministry statement said.

Apart from these, 44 personnel have been awarded the President's correctional service medal for distinguished and meritorious service.