I-Day: 990 securitymen honored, CRPF steals the show
The war against terrorists in Kashmir and against Maoists in central India has brought laurels to security forces in the region. While 40 of the 190 police gallantry medals awarded this Independence Day went to J&K police and CRPF/BSF in the Valley, 52 were awarded to Andhra Pradesh police and Grey Hound commandos in the state. A total of 990 personnel were honored.
The second-highest gallantry award, the Kirti Chakra, went to two CRPF commandants in J&K- Chetan Singh Cheetah and martyr Pramod Kumar. Twenty-five J&K police personnel (including five who neutralized LeT commander Abu Qasim), five BSF men and eight other CRPF personnel are also in the list of awardees. 132 terrorists have been killed in J&K this year, including Abu Dujana and Sabzar Bhat.
All 52 personnel involved in killing a record 24 Maoists in a single operation in October'16 were honored. Five IPS officers posted in Naxal-affected states, including Jharkhand officer Mohammad Arshi and Haryana IG Anil K Rao, have been given gallantry medals. Meanwhile, the lone President's police medal for gallantry went to Chhattisgarh braveheart Shankar Rao, martyred during an anti-Maoist operation in Sukma in April'15.
There was one President's police medal for gallantry, 93 President's police medals for meritorious service and 706 police medals for meritorious service- a total of 990. UP Police bagged the highest number of medals (81) among state police. Andhra (67), Maharashtra (56) and J&K (44) followed. Among the paramilitary, CRPF got 121 medals, BSF 67, CISF 25 and ITBP and Assam Rifles medals each.
