The Centre on Monday announced service medals for 954 police personnel of various State forces and paramilitary on the eve of 77th Independence Day.
According to the Union Home Ministry, 230 personnel will be decorated with bravery medals, including a President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG).
The lone PPMG medal has been announced for CRPF’s Assistant Commandant Loukrakpam Ibomcha Singh. This is his second gallantry medal in service.
The other medals include 82 President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and 642 Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
Among the majority of the 230 Gallantry Awards, 125 personnel from Naxal-affected areas, 71 personnel from Jammu and Kashmir region and 11 personnel from North East are being awarded for their gallant action.
Of these Gallantry Awards, 28 are from CRPF, 33 are from Maharashtra, 55 are from Jammu and Kashmir Police, 24 are from Chhattisgarh, 22 are from Telangana and 18 are from Andhra Pradesh and the remaining from the other States/Union Territories and Central Armed Police Force (CAPFs) or the paramilitary forces.
The President's Police Medal for Gallantry and Police Medal for Gallantry is awarded on the ground of “conspicuous gallantry” in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals.
The President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PPM) is awarded for a special distinguished record in police service and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PM) is awarded for valuable service characterized by resource and devotion to duty.
Likewise, the government also awarded 53 personnel with Fire Service Medals. Out of these, the President's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry has been awarded to three personnel and the Fire Service Medal for Gallantry to one personnel for their respective acts of valour and gallantry.
The President's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service has been awarded to eight personnel and the Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service is awarded to 41 personnel for their respective distinguished and meritorious records of services.
Besides these, 48 personnel/ volunteers have also been awarded Home Guards & Civil Defence Medals on this occasion. Of these, the President's Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Distinguished Service and Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Meritorious Service have been awarded to five personnel / volunteers and 43 personnel / volunteers respectively.
President’s Medal for Gallantry and President’s Medal for Distinguished Services as well as Gallantry Medal and Meritorious Services Medals are awarded to the personnel of Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards on Republic Day and Independence Day each year.