On the night of Republic Day, the Union government announced 901 service medals, including 140 for valour, for personnel of central and state police forces.
The recipients of the Medal of Valor include 80 people from areas afflicted by left-wing extremism and 45 personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir region.
Wednesday, the Union Home Ministry released a list of the recipients of the Police Medal for Gallantry, the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service. Home Ministry spokesperson: “Police Medal for Gallantry has been awarded to 140, President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service to 93, and Police Medal for Meritorious Service to 668.”
In 2021, 19 officers from a team of C60 commandos of the Gadchiroli police murdered 15 Maoists, including seven women, in a woodland encounter in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. These officers were awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has received the most bravery medals, with 48, followed by the Maharashtra Police with 31, the Jammu and Kashmir Police with 25, the Jharkhand Police with nine, the Chhattisgarh Police with seven, the Border Security Force (BSF) with seven, the Delhi Police with seven, the Madhya Pradesh Police with four, the Assam Rifles with one, and the CISF with one.
The Police Medal for Gallantry is presented for “extraordinary valour in saving life and property, preventing crime, or apprehending offenders.” The President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service is awarded for a “distinguished record in police service,” while the Police Medal for Meritorious Service is bestowed for “useful service marked by resourcefulness and dedication to duty.”
In addition, two Kashmiri firefighters have been selected to receive gallantry medals on Republic Day for their extraordinary bravery in the face of danger.
Firdous Ahmad Khan, a firefighter of selection grade, and Bashir Ahmad Ahanger, who are both employed by the Jammu and Kashmir Fire Services, are among the 47 recipients of Fire Service Medals on Republic Day.
Prakash Singh Negi, a home guard volunteer from Chandigarh, was awarded the Home Guard & Civil Defence Medal for Gallantry.
