New Delhi, Aug 14 : The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has bagged 154 Gallantry medals on the eve of the 75th Independence Day on Saturday, its highest ever tally and the most among all the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
Of the 154 Gallantry medals, 108 are for operations that took place in Jammu and Kashmir, 39 for acts of gallantry in Left Wing Extremism areas, and seven for operations in the Northeast.
“The force has bagged three Shaurya Chakras (announced by the Defence Ministry), one President's Police Medal for Gallantry and 150 Police Medal for Gallantry. This is not just the largest number of medals received among any CAPFs, but is also the highest that CRPF has received on one occasion. The force takes pride in its total number of medals, which have now reached a tally of 2,267,” an official said.
CRPF Head Constable Kale Sunil Dattatraya has been awarded the President's Police Medal For gallantry posthumously. Dattatraya was killed while fighting terrorists in Pulwama on June 23 last year.
CRPF Deputy Commandant Chitesh Kumar, Sub Inspector Manjinder Singh and Constable Sunil Choudhary were awarded Shaurya Chakra for their brave operation against Maiosts in March 2019, when they neutralised four dreaded Maoists belonging to the PLGA cadre, who were carrying Rs 8 lakh reward on their heads.
The CRPF is the largest peacekeeping force among all the CAPFs under the administrative control of the Union Home Ministry.
“Due recognition of valour and sacrifices of Jammu and Kashmir Police officers and personnel,” this was stated by the Director General of Police J&K, Dilbag Singh, on the announcement of service and gallantry medals by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Administration of Union Territory Jammu & Kashmir on the occasion of 75th Independence Day.
“DGP has paid rich tributes to the fallen heroes, ASI Babu Ram, Constable Mohd Altaf Hussain and SPO Shahbaz Ahmad of JKP who brought honour and glory to the force in their sacrifice and service to the nation for which Ministry of Defence has awarded Country's highest peacetime honour, Ashok Chakra to Martyr ASI Babu Ram who made supreme sacrifice during an assault against holed up terrorists at Pantha Chowk last year, Kirti Chakra to martyr Constable Mohd. Altaf Hussain who sacrificed his life while saving the life of a Protected Person who was attacked by terrorists in Ganderbal and Shauriya Chakra to martyr SPO Shahbaz Ahmad who has been awarded for his gallant action against terrorists in an counter-terrorist operation at Khrew, Awantipora last year,” it reads.
“The Police personnel who have been awarded Presidents Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PPMDS) are SP Pran Nath Pandith, DySp Syed Sajad Hussain. The Police personnel who have been awarded Police Medal for Meritorious Medals (PMMS) are SSP Shiv Kumar Sharma, SSP Javid Hassan Bhat, SSP Mohd Sharief Chouhan, SSP Amit Bhasin, SSP Tanveer Jeelani, SP Smt Rajni Sharma, DySp Jeetan Ji Mattoo, Inspector Taran Singh, Inspector Bandeshwar Singh Manhas, Inspector Amit Kumar Koul, Sub Inspector Prem Krishan Kathua, Sub Inspector Manzoor Ahmad Khan, ASI Gajinder Singh, HC Manmohan Ganjoo, SgCt Anil Kumar, and SgCt Nayeem Nadeem Bhat,” it added
