New Delhi: Two Border Security Force personnel killed during a UN peacekeeping mission in Congo and current Director General (law and order) in UP Police Prashant Kumar, popularly called the “encounter specialist”, were honored for gallantry on Republic Day eve, which saw 1,132 personnel from the police, fire services, home guards, civil defense and correctional service being named for four different categories of police and service medals.
The medals announced on Thursday include 277 gallantry medals, comprising two President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG) and 275 medals for Gallantry (GM); 102 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM); and 753 Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).
Among the 277 gallantry medal awardees, 119 were honored for brave actions in extremism-affected areas and 133 in terrorism-hit Jammu & Kashmir. At 72, J&K Police have the highest number of medals, followed by CRPF with 65, Chhattisgarh Police with 26, Jharkhand Police with 23, Sashastra Seema Bal with 21, Maharashtra Police with 18, and Odisha Police with 15.
Figuring among the eight gallantry winners in Delhi Police is ASI Shambhu Dayal Meena who was killed after being stabbed by a snatcher who he had confronted.
Overall, CRPF has got the highest police medals this year at 127, followed by J&K Police with 86.
