On the occasion of Independence Day, thirteen year old girl Prasanta Shandilya was presented the “Uttam Jeevan Raksha” medal by the Chief Minister Hement Soren at the official function at Morahabdi ground. Prasanta is the daughter of Brajesh Shandilya Senior General Manager of the Jindal Steel and Power limited, presently posted at Angul in Orissa.
She has been presented the award for the bravery displayed by her on April 12, 2011 when her father was posted at Godda. On the fateful night several miscreants barged into their house and badly assaulted her father. They continued to beat him even though his wife offered to part with all ornaments and cash. When the girl got up from her sleep, she was also beaten.
Acting daringly, she first hid her three-year-old younger brother under the cot and then picked a packet of chilly powder from the kitchen. She sprayed the lethal powder on some of the miscreants immobilizing them. This caused panic among the intruders and forced to run away. For her deed on Republic Day in 2012, the girl was nominated for the bravery award and on the Independence Day the Chief Minister on behalf of the Union Home Ministry handed over the medal to the girl