Republic Day: J-K Police gets max 108 gallantry medals, CRPF 76

Jammu and Kashmir Police has bagged maximum number of gallantry hours with 108 medals on occasion of 71st Republic Day, followed by 76 by CRPF, according to an official communication on Saturday.

tally for Union Territory police, thickly involved in counter-terrorist operations in Kashmir Valley, also includes three President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG), out of total four of se top category decorations anunced this time.

se numbers have enabled Jammu and Kashmir Police to win a lion's share of 108 medals out of total 290 gallantry awards declared on eve of Republic Day, as per Union Home Ministry. It is one of highest tally of gallantry medals won by a police force in recent times, a senior officer in security establishment said.

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Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) that is also deployed in Union Territory for counter-terror duties apart from being le force in anti-Naxal operations continued its streak of getting largest multi-atre gallantry medals as it has been decorated with 75 Police Medals for Gallantry and a PPMG (posthumously) for CoBRA commando Utpal Rabha.

Rabha was killed in an encounter with Maoists in Jharkhand in June, 2018 and his citation said he displayed "extraordinary valour" during gunbattle. Among or awardees of CRPF is Assistant Commandant Naresh Kumar, who is being decorated with a gallantry medal for sixth time.

officer was part of famed quick action team (QAT) of CRPF based in Srinagar that specialises in conducting counter-terror operations. Kumar, who served for about five years in Kashmir, has been involved in operations that killed more than 50 terrorists.

Atul Karwal, Director of Sardar Vallabhai Patel National Police Acemy in Hyderab, alma mater of Indian Police Service officers also won a PMG. Karwal has been awarded for an operation he participated in 2016 when he was CRPF Inspector General (IG) in Kashmir. CRPF Director General (DG) A P Maheshwari praised his troops "for keeping flag of force flying high".

"I also salute families of personnel who laid down ir lives in line of duty," CRPF chief said. Or forces that have been decorated with police bravery medal (PMG) include state police units of Jharkhand (33), Odisha (16), Delhi Police (12), Maharashtra (10), Chhattisgarh (8), Bihar (7), Punjab (4) and Manipur (2).

Among central forces, Border Security Force (BSF) got nine PMG followed by SSB 4, and one for Railway Protection Force (RPF). Overall, a total of 1,040 police medals have been declared on eve of Republic Day that includes 93 distinguished service medals and 657 meritorious service medals. se police bravery awards are declared biannually on eve of Republic Day and Independence Day.

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