Uttar Pradesh cops bag 9 gallantry medals for killing goons

Lucknow: The UP Police will be decorated with nine gallantry medals on Independence Day this year.
Among the prominent awardees is SP, Jaunpur, Ajay Sahni, who, during his stint as SSP, Meerut, led the encounter of Shiv Shakti Naidu, kingpin of Delhi’s notorious Naidu gang, involved in Rs 8 crore heist, carrying Rs 1 lakh cash reward. Several cases are registered against him in Delhi, UP, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. In Delhi alone, he is wanted in connection with over 12 cases.
On February 18, 2020, Naidu was killed in encounter in Kankerkhera area of Meerut. Naidu shot to infamy following Rs 8 crore heist in Lajpat Nagar on January 28, 2014. Along with Sahni, inspector Bijendra Pal Rana was also awarded a PMG in the case.
In another case, Dy SP, STF, Pramesh Shukla along with inspector Pankaj Mishra and sub-inspector Shailendra Kumar were awarded PMG for the encounter of Tinku Kappala, carrying Rs 1 lakh cash reward, on July 24, 2020. He was named in a sensational dacoity at jeweller’s place in Lucknow in which three persons were killed. Kapalla also had 30 cases of robbery in his name.
In another case, sub-inspectors Akshay Kumar, Bhupendra Sharma, Sunil Nagar and constable Taslim Khan were awarded PMG for the encounter of Aas Mohammad alias Ashu, carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh, in Muzaffarnagar on May 21, 2019. Thirty-six robbery cases were registered against him.
Meanwhile, four police officers, including Noida police commissioner Alok Singh, were awarded the President’s medal for distinguished services and 73 medals were awarded for meritorious services.
This year 10 cops have been rewarded with the Union Home Minister’s Medal for excellence in investigation 2021. Among them is ACP, Gomtinagar, Shweta Srivastava from Lucknow. Nine others are from different districts of the state. They have been rewarded for scientific investigation, meticulous evidence collection and timely filing of chargesheets, paving way for conviction of the accused.