Bhubaneswar: The Union Government has selected 33 police personnel from Odisha for the prestigious Gallantry/Service medals on the occasion of Republic Day-2024.
The Government has taken many steps in recent years to rationalize and transform the entire award eco system of various awards. In this regard, Sixteen Gallantry/Service Medals (for Police, Fire Service, Home Guard & Civil Defence and Correctional Service) have been rationalized and merged into following four medals:
1. President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG)
2. Medal for Gallantry (GM)
3. President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM)
4. Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM)
On 75th Republic Day, a total of 1132 personnel of Police, Fire Service, Home Guard & Civil Defence and Correctional Service will be awarded under various categories.
Among the majority of the 277 Gallantry Awards, 119 personnel from Left Wing Extremism affected areas, 133 personnel from Jammu & Kashmir region and 25 personnel form other regions are being awarded for their gallant action.
Among the personnel receiving Gallantry Medals, 02 PMG have been awarded to BSF personnel for their outstanding contribution in the prestigious task of peace keeping as part of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) as members of the 15th Congo Contingent of BSF at the Moroccan Rapid Deployment Battalion (MORRDB) Camp at Butembo.
Out of 277 Gallantry Medals, 275 GM have been awarded to 72 personnel from J&K Police, 18 personnel from Maharashtra, 26 personnel from Chhattisgarh, 23 personnel from Jharkhand, 15 personnel from Odisha, 08 personnel from Delhi, 65 personnel from CRPF, 21 personnel from SSB and the remaining personnel from the other States/UTs and CAPFs.
List of awardees from Odisha for the award of medal for Gallantry (GM):
1. Arun Kumar Bhue – SI
2. Motiram Sahoo – Hav
3. Prakash Majhi – Commando
4. Niranjan Sahu – Commando
5. Jadumani Bhue – Commando
6. Umesh Seth – Commando
7. Bubun Kumbhar – Commando
8. Sanjaya Kumar Guru – Commando
9. Biswajit Das – Commando
10. Laxman Nayak – Constable
11. Satya Odi – Constable
12. Kana Beti – Constable
13. Ramakanta Sahu – SI
14. Satyabadi Bhui – CT
15. Suraj Kumar Sahu – CT
List of awardees from Odisha for President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM):
1. Dr. Santosh Bala, Special Secretary to Home Department, Odisha Government.
2. Smt. Sanjukta Pattnaik, Constable, Odisha.
HOME GUARD & CIVIL DEFENCE (PSM)
1. Jyoti Ranjan Mahapatra, Civil Defence Volunteer, Odisha.
Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) awardees from Odisha:
Police Service
1. Satyabrata Bhoi, Inspector General of Police, Odisha.
2. Sarada Prasanna Pradhan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Odisha.
3. Pradip Kumar Samal, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Deployed), Odisha.
4. Prasanta Kumar Sahoo, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Odisha.
5. Rasmi Ranjan Mohapatra, Inspector, Odisha.
6. Rajat Kerketta, Deputy Commandant, Odisha.
7. Dillip Kumar Naik, Driver Havildar, Odisha.
8. Bijay Kumar Pradhan, Assistant Sub Inspector of Police, Odisha.
9. Banamali Ray, Sepoy, Odisha.
10. Nam Bahadur Chhetry, Sepoy, Odisha.
11. Arati Sahu, Constable, Odisha.
Fire Service
1. Rajendra Kumar Swain, Leading Fireman, Odisha.
2. Tarakanta Mahapatra, Leading Fireman, Odisha.
Home Guard & Civil Defence
1. Rajendra Kumar Jena, Home Guard Volunteer, Odisha.
Correctional Service
1. Ghanashyam Paik, Chief Warder, Odisha.
President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG) and Medal for Gallantry (GM) are awarded on the ground of Rare Conspicuous Act of Gallantry and Conspicuous Act of Gallantry respectively in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals, the risk incurred being estimated with due regard to the obligations and duties of the officer concerned.