Independence Day 2020: MHA announces Gallantry & service awards, J&K tops gallantry list

Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday announced  list of medal awardees to police personnel on occasion of 74th Independence Day to be celebrated on 15 August. A total of 926 police personnel have been awarded medals belonging to different states and forces under three main categories.

President Police Medals for Distinguished is awarded to 80 police personnel, Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG) is given to 215 personnel, and Police Medals for Mertitorious Service is awarded to 631 police personnel.

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J&K tops gallant list

According to  official release, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has highest number of police personnel who have been conferred with prestigious PMG. A total of 81 personnel from Union territory received medal for ir gallant. Followed by police personnel from Uttar Presh and Delhi with 23 and 16 personnel respectively on gallant medal awardee list. 55 CRPF jawans have also received  PMG along with or police personnel from various states.

Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma of Delhi Police Special Cell, who died in Batla House encounter in 2008, has been awarded gallantry medal posthumously. Sharma has received 6th bar to Police Medal for Gallantry. Three IPS officers from Jammu and Kashmir Police, including Sandeep (SSP Anantnag), Gurinderpal Singh (SP Kulgam), and Atul Kumar Goel (DIG South Kashmir) have been awarded PMG. Two more J&K Police IPS officers, DIG Vidhi Kumar Birdi (currently on deputation in NIA) and Tejinder Singh (SSP) have received 1st and 2nd bar to PMG respectively along with remaining police personnel.

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For next 2 categories, i.e Police Medal for meritorious service Uttar Presh has highest number of police personnel selected has received this honour. Out of total 631, 73 police personnel are chosen from UP, followed by 59 from CRPF. Meanwhile, 6 police personnel from UP is highest number in  President's Police Medal for distinguished service category in comparison to rest of states. 8 personnel from IB (MHA) are honoured with President's Police Medal for distinguished service.

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