Bhubaneswar, Aug. 15: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today presented the President's police medal for distinguished service to inspector-general Susant Kumar Nath and superintendent of police (headquarters) Dillip Kumar Das.
Eleven other police officers, including deputy inspector-general S. Shyni, were awarded medals for meritorious service. Four fire personnel were presented the Presdents's fire service medal for distinguished service and five others received fire service medals for meritorious service.
Two home guards and a civil defence volunteer were also presented home guards and civil defence medals for "meritorious service".
Two jail officials were awarded correctional service medals.
Lalmohan Mohanta of Mayurbhanj district was conferred the Jeevan Raksha Padak (gallantry medal) for rescuing three passengers of a truck that drowned in Baitarani river on January 23, 2015. These personnel were selected for medals in various categories on the occasion of Republic Day.
The central government yesterday announced names of 26 police personnel from the state for various medals. The medals will be given away during the next Republic Day celebrations.
A release by the Union home ministry said that the state police bagged 17 gallantry medals, one President's medal for distinguished service and eight medals for meritorious service.
Additional superintendent of police Rabindra Kumar Mohapatra has been nominated for the President's police medal for distinguished service. The police medal for gallantry will be awarded to sub-inspector Bikash Patra, havildars Bhabani Pradhan and Amit Kumar Biswal, deputy subedar Kiran Kumar, sergeants Tunu Sahoo and Santanu Kumar Pradhan and constables Manoranjan Nayak, Uday Sankar Patra, Dhaneswar Muduli, Premananda Pradhan, Mahadev Gahir, Hemanta Pradhan, Hrushikesh Jal, Raj Kishore Pradhan, Ram Chandra Hembram, Samanta Majhi and Suresh Chandra Hembram (posthumously).
Police medals for meritorious service will be awarded to additional superintendent Kartikeswar Samal, assistant inspector general Kishore Kumar Dongayat, assistant commandant Naresh Kumar Patel, sub-inspector Bijay Kishore Dash, havildars Mohammad Sabir and Goutam Charan Swain and constables Sagar Charan Guia and Sanjukta Pattnaik.
