The list includes 301 gallantry recipients, with personnel serving in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism accounting for the largest share…reports Asian Lite news Desk
A total of 1,057 personnel across India have been awarded gallantry and service medals on the occasion of Independence Day, with security personnel deployed in some of the country’s most challenging regions featuring prominently in the honours list.
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the awards on Friday, August 14. The honours recognise gallantry, distinguished service and meritorious service among personnel from police forces, central armed police forces and fire services.
Of the 301 Medals for Gallantry awarded this year, 272 went to police personnel and 29 to members of the fire services. Personnel serving in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism received 197 gallantry medals. Another 51 medals went to personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir region, while 12 recipients were from the Northeast and 41 from other parts of the country.
Chhattisgarh accounted for 141 police personnel on the gallantry list. The state was previously among the areas worst affected by Left Wing Extremism. The Union government declared India free of Maoist presence on March 31. The Chhattisgarh recipients include 35 constables from the Bastar Fighters, a specialised force composed of local residents, surrendered Maoists and victims of Maoist violence.
Inspector General of Police Sunderraj P., who has served in the Bastar region longer than any other serving officer, is also among those receiving gallantry medals. The Central Reserve Police Force secured the largest number of gallantry and service medals among the central armed police forces, with 86 awards.
The CRPF tally includes 24 Medals for Gallantry, five President’s Medals for Distinguished Service and 57 Medals for Meritorious Service. Officials said the gallantry medals recognised personnel involved in two counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir and an operation against insurgents in Manipur. All three operations took place in 2024.
Deputy Inspector General M. Dhinakaran, who heads the CRPF Recruit Training Centre in Avadi, Chennai, is among those awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. “The PSM was awarded to the DIG in recognition of his long and distinguished service, integrity, dedication and exemplary professional performance,” an official statement said.
The Border Security Force received 20 gallantry medals and 47 service medals, including President’s Medals for Distinguished Service and Medals for Meritorious Service. Rakesh Sharma, Group Commander of the National Security Guard, was awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. He has led counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura, Nagaland and Assam.
A total of 28 Central Industrial Security Force personnel received police medals. Inspector General Harpreet Kaur Sohi and Mohan S. were among the CISF personnel awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. Two Indian Police Service officers from the AGMUT cadre, Nupur Prasad and Surendra Kumar, were recognised with Medals for Meritorious Service. Both officers are currently posted in Delhi.
The awards highlighted the contribution of personnel involved in counter-terrorism, anti-insurgency, anti-Maoist and border-security duties, alongside those recognised for long and distinguished careers in public service.
