942 police, fire personnel to receive gallantry awards; 15 from Punjab

A total of 942 personnel of police force, fire service, home guard and civil defence and correctional services have been awarded gallantry and service medals.

President’s medal for 31 CBI officers

• As many as 31 officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have been awarded the President’s Police Medal for distinguished service and Police Medal for meritorious service by President Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of Republic Day.
• The distinguished service medal was awarded to six officers which included two IPS officers.

Police service medals have been awarded to eight personnel from Haryana, 15 from Punjab, 10 from J&K and two from Chandigarh.

Medal for meritorious service for correctional service include two awardees from J&K and four from Haryana.

Meritorious Service Medal awardees for Home Guard and civil defence include two from Himachal Pradesh and one from J&K.

Awardees under fire service for meritorious service medal include four personnel from Delhi and one from Himachal Pradesh.

Among the 95 gallantry award winners, 28 deployed in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, 28 in the Jammu and Kashmir region, three in the northeast and 36 posted in other regions are being awarded for their gallant action.

Out of the 95 medal for gallantry (GM), 78 police personnel and 17 fire service personnel have been awarded GM, respectively. 15 police personnel have been honoured with GM.

One fire service personnel from J&K has been honoured with GM posthumously.

President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) is awarded for special distinguished record in service and Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) is awarded for valuable service characterised by resource and devotion to duty.

Of the 101 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service (PSM), 85 have been awarded to police personnel, five to fire services personnel, seven to civil defence and home guard service and four to correctional service.

Among the 746 Medals for Meritorious Service (MSM), 634 have been awarded to police service, 37 to fire service, 39 to civil defence and home guard service and 36 to correctional service.

The medal for gallantry is awarded for a rare conspicuous act of gallantry and a conspicuous act of gallantry respectively in saving life and property or in preventing crime or arresting criminals, the risk incurred being estimated with due regard to the obligations and duties of the officer concerned.