Nagpur traffic cop Rajesh Ghongade who foiled Rs 1 lakh robbery ignored by seniors, rewarded Rs 5,000 by CP Amitesh Kumar

NAGPUR: Cops getting rewarded for preventive action is nothing new in the department, but traffic constable Rajesh Ghongade had to fight to get his 33rd reward. It turned out to be really special in the end, as the Rs5,000 award was directly announced by CP Amitesh Kumar within minutes of being presented the facts by the cop himself.
Ghongade, a post graduate in social work, had prevented the theft of cash Rs1 lakh on Monday at Bagadganj. However, his feat went unheeded till he approached the CP, who thought he deserved special praise. The top cop has asked Ghongade to be present at the crime conference on Thursday, where he will be felicitated in front of senior officers.

Ghongade said he was going to Lakadganj traffic unit to join duty on Monday. “I was behind a biker, who had a bag around his neck. Two robbers grabbed the bag and pulled it. The biker fell down as his bike skidded,” said Ghongade. “I saw the two robbers running towards him and trying to wrench the bag away,” said Ghongade.
Ghongade too jumped down from his bike and chased the robbers, who were surprised to see a cop charging at them. “The robbers fled and shouted the man who had fallen was a thief. Still, I ran to the victim and saved his bag. Later, the victim thanked me for saving the money belonging to his office,” said Ghongade. He did not even have a wireless set to alert other cops, and got on his phone with senior officers to summon more cops to the spot.
It’s learnt no senior traffic cops informed Kumar about the constable’s brave act. So, Ghongade landed up at the CP’s chamber on Tuesday as a ‘visitor’, to inform the police chief of his act and get his appreciation, adding he just wanted to extend gratitude to the CP without hurting the sentiments of any seniors.
Ghongade waited in queue among other citizens to meet the top cop. Unaware of TOI scribe’s presence in the chamber, Ghongade started speaking before the CP. He sounded unsure, his voice quivering, as he narrated how he prevented theft of Rs1 lakh. He seemed unsure whether even the top cop too would overlook his efforts and send him back. However, Kumar immediately announced the reward.
Before this, Ghongade had single-handedly pinned down an armed goon, who shot twice at him, with bricks and sticks alone while working at Shantinagar police station a few years back.