Bhubaneswar: At least 13 police officers and personnel from Odisha have been selected for police medals on the occasion of 78th Independence Day.
Additional Director General Suresh Dev Datta Singh, 1998-batch IPS officer, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Sachidananda Rath, an officer of Odisha Police Service, will receive President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. Company commander Prakash Chandra Sahoo and defence volunteer Simanchala Kundu have also been selected for the award among Home Guard and Civil Defence personnel.
Eleven other officers from the state will awarded Medal for Meritorious Service.
- Kaushika Kumar Naik, Deputy Commandant
- Sanat Kumar Nathsharma, Deputy Superintendent of Police
- Kavita Sahu, Deputy Superintendent of Police
- Pramoda Kumar Mohanta, Constable
- Pradyumna Kumar Nanda, Sub Inspector
- Babula Samal, Assistant Sub Inspector
- Sanjukta Patanaik, Constable
- Haribandhu Bhatra, Inspector
- Tophan Behera, Havildar
- Prana Krishna Lenka, Havildar
- Suresh Chandra Rout, Havildar
Two firemen from Odisha, Niranjan Jena and Sukanta Kumar Jena, platoon commander (Home Guard) Sulochana Sahoo and civil defence volunteer Jhagu Barua and jailor Ratikant Sukla will also receive the medal.
President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) is awarded for special distinguished record in service and Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) is awarded for valuable service characterised by resource and devotion to duty.
However, none from Odisha has been picked for the medal for gallantry, which is awarded for saving life, property and preventing crimes or arresting criminals. A total of 1037 personnel of Police, Fire, Home Guard & Civil Defence (HG&CD) and Correctional Services will awarded gallantry and service medals.
Of 213 Medal for Gallantry (GM), 208 have been awarded to police personnel, including 31 from J&K police, 17 each from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, 15 from Chhattisgarh, 12 from Madhya Pradesh, 7 each from Jharkhand, Punjab and Telangana, 52 from CRPF, 14 from SSB, 10 from CISF and 6 from BSF. Three and one GM have been awarded to Delhi and Jharkhand Fire Service personnel respectively and another to Uttar Pradesh HG&CD personnel.
Of 94 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service, 75 have been awarded to Police Service, 8 to Fire Service, 8 to Civil Defence & Home Guard Service and 3 to Correctional Service. Similarly, 624 of 729 Medal for Meritorious Service have been awarded to Police Service, 47 to Fire Service, 47 to Civil Defence & Home Guard Service and 11 to Correctional Service.