Over 950 personnel chosen for medals

Over 950 personnel from state police, paramilitary force, jails and agencies like CBI were chosen for the prestigious police medals on the eve of Independence Day.

Paramilitary personnel numbering 252 received various medals -- President's Police Medal for Gallantry, President's Police Medal for Distinguished Services, Police Medal for Gallantry and Police Medal for Meritorious Services.

Fifteen personnel were selected for the coveted President's Police Medal for Gallantry, including posthumous recognition for CRPF's Assistant Commandant Saunak Kumar Das. BSF Inspector Gaurav Godbole was also selected for the award for his action during a anti-Maoist operation in Odisha.

President's Police Medal for Distinguished Services were awarded to 82 personnel including BSF Inspectors General Aditya Mishra, Ashok Kumar Sharma and Ajay Kumar Tomar as well as CRPF counterparts Ajit Kulshreshtha, Satendra Pal Singh and Suraj Bhan Kajal.

Twenty-four CBI officers were also selected for the awards for President's Police Medal Distinguished Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Service. The award winners include those who led the probe in the coal block allocation scam, the Shopian deaths, the Naval war room leak case and Tatra scam. Joint Director Rajeev Sharma, who is leading the probe into the non-performing assets of public sector banks and Rs 45,000 crore ponzi scam, was among the winners of President's Police Medal for distinguished service.

DIG Ravi Kant, who is heading the probe in coal block allocation scam and was reinstated by Supreme Court after his transfer from the agency, has been given Police Medal for meritorious service. Another DIG, Ratan Sanjay, was also selected for the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.