Republic Day: 855 police personnel decorated; 149 get gallantry medals

A total of 855 police and paramilitary personnel were awarded police medals Friday, including 149 for gallantry in Jammu and Kashmir, Naxal violence-affected areas and others, ahead of the Republic Day.

The CRPF, the country's largest paramilitary force, was decorated with maximum 44awards for bravery followed by Odisha Police at 26 medals, Jammu and Kashmir Police 25 medals and Chhattisgarh 14 medals.

Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were also decorated posthumously with the top category President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG).

Other gallantry medal winners hail from Meghalaya (13), Uttar Pradesh (10), Border Security Force (8), Delhi (4), Jharkhand (3) and one each from the Assam Rifles and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

A Ministry of Home Affairs order said a total of 146 Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG), 74 President's Police Medal for distinguished service and 632 police medal for meritorious service were conferred on the men and the women in khaki from various state police and central police forces and organisations.