An officer receives the police medal from chief minister Shibu Soren in Ranchi. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Nov. 15: East Singhbhum police superintendent Naveen Kumar Singh, who had led teams that gunned down several Maoists and recovered several arms, including the ones looted after the murder of JMM leader Sunil Mahto, was today honoured with Chief Minister’s Medal for bravery.

Besides Singh, 34 other police officers were also given the same honour for bravery at different places during their services.

The awardees included constable Yama Thapa, who got the award posthumously. Thapa died fighting rebels at Dalwadih village in Giridih. The Maoists had shot him to death when he, after opening several rounds of fire on the group from close range to save his colleagues, was about to hurl grenade.

Twenty-eight police officers were also given Jharkhand Police Medal for their exemplary services. The list includes Giridih police superintendent M.L. Meena and Pakur police superintendent Sampat Meena.

Dependants of 12 police martyrs were given appointment letters on the occasion while 36 got cheques of compensation. Widows of martyrs were also honoured on the occasion.

Earlier, a colourful foundation day parade was organised by the jawans of Jharkhand Armed Police, Special Auxiliary Police, Jharkhand Jaguar and District Armed Police. Addressing the men in khaki, chief minister Shibu Soren said that the police force was not raised just for livelihood but for the service of society and the nation.