1,090 personnel honoured with gallantry, service medals

A total of 1,090 personnel of the police, fire, Home Guard & civil defence and correctional services have been awarded gallantry and service medals on the eve of Independence Day.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs said as many as 233 personnel have been honoured with the Medal for Gallantry, 99 have been awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service and 758 have been given the Medal for Meritorious Service.

Among the gallantry medals, the maximum of 152 have been given to personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir region, followed by 54 for troops deployed in anti-Naxal operations, three for duties in the North-East and 24 from other regions.

The Medal for Gallantry is awarded on the grounds of a rare conspicuous act of bravery in saving life and property or in preventing crime or in arresting criminals. Of the 233 such medals, 226 have been given to police personnel, six to firemen and one to a Home Guard & Civil Defence employee.

The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service is awarded for a special distinguished record in service and the Medal for Meritorious Service is awarded for valuable service characterised by resourcefulness and devotion to duty.

Of the 99 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service, 89 have been awarded to the police, five to fire services, three to Civil Defence & Home Guards and two to correctional services.

Of the 758 Medals for Meritorious Service, 635 have been awarded to the police, 51 to the fire services, 41 to Civil Defence & Home Guards and 31 to correctional services, the statement said.