Mumbai: A total of 75 Maharashtra police personnel will be conferred prestigious police medals on the occasion of Republic Day, including 31 from Gadchiroli for gallantry in the fight against Naxalism. The honours include 31 Medals for Gallantry, four President’s Medals for Distinguished Service and 40 Medals for Meritorious Service.The 31 personnel from Gadchiroli police include naik constable Bitaji Veladi and constable Kare Irpa Atram, who laid down their lives in the fight against Left Wing Extremism, the official said.The 40 awardees for meritorious services from Maharashtra include inspector generals of police Rajiv Jain and Sudhir Hiremath, superintendent of police (Maharashtra ATS) Sheela Sail, deputy commissioners of police (DCP) Mohan Dahikar and Purushottam Karad, assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Mahesh Tawde, and inspector Suvarna Shinde, who is heading Mumbai’s West region cybercrime police station.The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service has been awarded to additional commissioner of police Mahesh Patil of Mumbai Police, DCP Balkrishna Yadav, and ACPs Cyrus Irani and Vitthal Kubade.The Union Home Ministry has released a list of 982 personnel from police, fire brigade, home guard, and civil defence units across the country who have been selected for gallantry and service medals, a traditional practice ahead of Republic Day. The list also includes 101 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service and 756 Medal for Meritorious Service to the officers and personnel.A break-up provided in the official statement showed that Jammu & Kashmir Police was decorated with the highest number of gallantry medals at 33, followed by Maharashtra Police at 31, Uttar Pradesh Police at 18, and Delhi Police at 14. Among the Central Armed Police Forces, the CRPF was the only force to get bravery citations at 12 medals.As per definition, a bravery medal is awarded to a person on grounds of rare conspicuous act of gallantry, and conspicuous act of gallantry in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals, the risk incurred being estimated with due regard to the obligations and duties of the officer concerned.
