State Director General of Police (DGP) AN Upadhyay and Additional Director General of Police (Naxal Ops) RK Vij on Thursday pinned-up promotion badges to 19 personnel of Special Task Force (STF) for their exemplary courage put forth during an encounter with Maoists in forested villages of Pidmel and Dabbakonta in Sukma district on April 11. A total of Seven STF troopers including a Platoon Commander ranked officer, two Head Constables and four Constables were martyred and 10 injured in the battle. A total of 35 Maoist rebels were shot down as per the admission of surrendered Jan Militia Commander Sodhi Rama alias Kanna during the encounter.
Promotion badges were pinned to all the 19 STF personnel, including Head Constable Rajesh Aatre who had been promoted to the rank of Assistant Platoon Commander and 18 Constables who have now been promoted to the rank of Head Constables — Arvind K Sharma, Ranjit K Singh, Sariyam Manoj, Madkam Kesha, Sunil Tigga, Bhimsen Kumar, Chainsingh Meriha, Sant Kumar Uike, Mukesh Kumar Jangde, Vinod K Markam, Harshnath Sharma, Ajit P Gupta, Tejpal Singh, Kattam Kanna, Kartam Manoj, Sariyam Bhima, Punem Bhima and Sanjay lakra.