R-Day honours for local cops

NAGPUR: Several local cops and 13 from Gadchiroli district have been named as recipients of medals for their outstanding contribution in the course of their official duty making them eligible for the special honour on the Republic Day. It’s learnt that around 967 personnel have been awarded police medals in different categories.
Around 25 personnel have been named for President’s Police Medals for Gallantry (PPMG), 132 for Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG), 98 for President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service and another 712 are to get Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
Rajan Pali, deputy SP, Fulgaon in Wardha, was among the ones to bag the top honour of President’s police medal for distinguished service along with two officers of additional director generals of police, KL Bishnoi and Sanjay Barve, in the same category.
Commissioner of police, Amravati city, Suresh Mekala, has been named as the recipient of police medal for meritorious services. Mekala had served in Nagpur as DCP. Shashikant Mane, now posted as chief of Regional Police Training School, Nagpur, has also been selected in the same category along with deputy SP Nitaram Kumre who served in city as ACP.
Three constables from Gadchiroli were posthumously awarded police medal for gallantry. Constable Sunil Madavi was among the three to be honoured posthumously for fight against Naxal guerillas in Gadchiroli. Sunil was awarded for his bravery in Hidoor encounter of last year but he was martyred in blast at Murmuri triggered by the Naxals.
Sub-inspector Ankush Mane of Gadchiroli police received second consecutive gallantry medal in last two years. He has been selected this year for his role in Hidoor encounter. Last year, PSI Mane was awarded for participation at Bhatpar encounter in which several Naxals were killed.
Five C-60 commanders too have been selected for gallantry awards this year. Party commander Sadashiv Madavi too was among the ones who have been selected consecutively for gallantry awards in the last two years.
Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Jimulgatta, Yeshwant Kale has been selected for gallantry award for his participation in an encounter at Asha in Gadchiroli during last year’s Lok Sabha election.
Former SP of Gadchiroli Mohd Suvez Haque, now district police chief of Palghar, has been named as the recipient of the police gallantry medal for his leadership in several encounters against Naxals. Haque has also bestowed with national award for best electoral management practice for Lok Sabha election by the election commission of India.