New Delhi: Thirteen bravehearts of Delhi Police’s Special Cell, who withstood Kevlar-shredding impact of hot lead during high-stake encounters and stood like a wall between the capital and chaos, have been honoured with the Police Medal for Gallantry.The first of the encounters unfolded near the DND Flyway toll plaza in Mayur Vihar, a gateway typically choked with commuter traffic. Here, a three-man team of additional commissioner of police Pramod Singh Kushwah and sub-inspectors Rajeev Kumar and Shibu R S intercepted Javed Ahmed Mattu.
A senior commander of Hizbul Mujahideen with an A++ category classification and a Rs 10-lakh bounty on his head, the man from Kashmir Valley was wanted for the deaths of five security personnel and a series of brazen terror attacks using rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices.As the Special Cell team closed in on him, the air was shattered by indiscriminate gunfire. A bullet struck Kushwah, its lethal force stopped only by the life-saving combination of metal and Kevlar in his ballistic vest. Despite the impact, the ‘Special Three’ pressed on, cornering and overpowering Mattu in a display of raw courage that subsequently became a benchmark for officers in the department.The vigilance of the Special Cell extended from the borders of Kashmir to radicalised cells of global terror networks. In the historic precinct of Tughlaqabad, inspector Manoj, sub-inspector Anshu Chaudhary and head constable Aleem Ahmad engaged in a desperate gunfight with Rizwan Ali, who had pledged allegiance to Islamic State and was wanted by National Investigation Agency. Under the direction of handlers rooted in the Pakistani deep state, Rizwan’s module had already tested improvised explosive devices and conducted reconnaissance of sensitive targets across Mumbai, Gujarat and Rajasthan. In Tughlaqabad, Rizwan was seemingly prepared for “martyrdom” and fired on the two officers after they intercepted him. Saved by their bullet-proof vests, the men in uniform did not retreat and managed to catch Rizwan. The final layer of the city’s defence was tested by recruits of Canada-based designated terrorists. Near Mayur Vihar, a four-man police unit of inspector Amit Nara and sub-inspectors Brajpal Singh, Satish Kumar and Udham Singh intercepted two such operatives working for Arsh Dalla of Khalistan Tiger Force, a designated terrorist organisation, after a brief exchange of fire. Another team of three policemen was instrumental in nabbing two more henchmen of the gangster-turned-international terrorist and were also awarded on the occasion of the Republic Day.
