LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh police has been awarded eight police medals for gallantry, seven President’s police medals for distinguished services and 72 medals of police meritorious services on the occasion of Republic Day.
Congratulating the awardees, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said these officials performed their duty in an exemplary manner and hoped that other police officials would take inspiration from them.
The coveted gallantry medal was awarded to additional director general (ADG), law and order, Prashant Kumar, for the encounter of a criminal, Shravan, in Gautam Budh Nagar on March 25, 2018.
Shravan was named in 14 criminal cases and carried Rs 1 lakh cash reward from Delhi police and Rs 50,000 from UP police. Challenged by police team, Shravan had opened fire from an AK-47 rifle. One of the bullets had hit the bullet-proof jacket of Kumar, who was ADG (Meerut zone) at that time. The police fired in retaliation gunning down Shravan.
Besides ADG Kumar, other cops who were awarded for gallantry for the same operation include inspector Sanjeev Kumar, two sub-inspectors and a constable.
ADG Prashant Kumar holds the distinction of being awarded the gallantry medal consecutively in 2020 and 2021.
Superintendent of police, Baghpat, Abhishek Singh has also been awarded gallantry medal for the encounter of criminals Narsi and Dheeraj on May 29, 2018. These two criminals were accused of killing a bride and looting six others on Meerut Highway in April 2018. Singh was then posted as SSP (Special Task Force). His other team members, who have also been awarded, are DySP Brijesh Singh and constable Rakam Singh.
IG, Recruitment Board, Vijay Bhushan has been awarded President’s Police Medal for distinguished services. Vijay Bhushan has been honoured with President’s Police Medals six times in the past and this is the seventh occasion that he is being awarded for outstanding service.
Likewise, ADG, UP 112, Asim Arun was awarded the President’s police medal for distinguished service along with six others. As many as 72 medals have been awarded to UP cops for meritorious service.
UP police had won 23 medals for gallantry on Independence Day last year.