CRPF bags most gallantry medals

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 25

The CRPF has been awarded the highest number of gallantry medals among all the police forces and the Central armed police forces of India announced on the eve of the Republic Day.

The CRPF has been conferred with four President Police Medals for Gallantry (PPMG) and 32 Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG). Out of the gallantry medals, eight CRPF personnel have been awarded posthumously. The CRPF is India’s primary counter-Maoist force and is also involved in operations against militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East.

Twentythree medals have been awarded to the troops deployed in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) theatre for their acts of valour, whereas four of them have been awarded to the troops deployed in the North East and nine for their acts of gallantry in Jammu and Kashmir.

The ITBP has been conferred with 22 gallantry medals. Four ITBP personnel have been honored with the President Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG), while 18 personnel have been awarded with the Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG), including 15 posthumously. These 15 personnel attained martyrdom while saving the lives of the stranded pilgrims during the Uttarakhand disaster in 2013 when an Mi-17 helicopter involved in a rescue mission crashed near Gaurikund on June 25, 2013.

The ITBP is guarding the India-China border. The force is also involved in anti-Maoist operations in the LWE affected areas. The BSF has been given six Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG), six President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Services (PPMDS) and 50 Police Medals for Meritorious Services (PMMS).

The BSF is deployed along India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is also conducting operations against militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, the North East and the LWE affected areas.

The CISF has been conferred with three President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and 28 personnel have been awarded with the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.