New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS): A total of 967 personnel, the maximum from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), were Sunday awarded police medals on the eve of India's 66th Republic Day.
Of the 967 personnel, 25 were awarded the President's Police Medal for Gallantry, 132 the Police Medal for Gallantry, 98 the President's Police Medals for Distinguished Service and 712 were awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
CRPF's Assistant Sub Inspector Avadh Bihari was posthumously awarded the President's Police Medal for Gallantry along with three other police officials -- two from Chhattisgarh and one from Maharashtra.
A total of 30 personnel were posthumously awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry -- nine from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), six from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), seven from the CRPF, four from the Border Security Force (BSF), two from Maharashtra Police, one from Chhattisgarh Police and one from Delhi Police.
A total of 32 personnel were awarded correctional service medals -- six President's Correctional Service Medal for Distinguished Service and 26 Correctional Service Medal for Meritorious Service.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) received 28 medals -- five President's Police Medals for Distinguished Service and 23 Police Medals for Meritorious Service.
CBI joint director Amrendra Kumar Singh was among the five officials who were recipients of the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
Delhi Police officers were conferred 20 police medals.
Constable Bijender was posthumously awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry, while two other Delhi Police officials were conferred the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and 17 Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
The CRPF was awarded the highest number of police medals at 105. There were four President's Police Medals for Gallantry, 32 Police Medals for Gallantry, six Police Medals for Distinguished Service and 58 Police Medals for Meritorious Service.
The BSF received 62 awards -- six Police Medals for Gallantry, six Police Medals for Distinguished Service and 50 Police Medals for Meritorious Service.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was conferred 31 awards -- three Police Medals for Distinguished Service and 28 Police Medals for Meritorious Service.
The ITBP was conferred 29 medals -- four President's Police Medals for Gallantry, nine Police Medals for Gallantry, two Police Medals for Distinguished Service, and 14 Police Medals for Meritorious Service.
The home ministry was conferred 36 police medals -- 10 Police Medals for Distinguished Service and 26 Police Medals for Meritorious Service.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) was awarded 19 police medals -- three Police Medals for Distinguished Service and 16 Police Medals for Meritorious Service.
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was conferred 15 police medals -- one Police Medal for Distinguished Service and 14 Police Medals for Meritorious Service.
The National Security Guard (NSG) was awarded seven police medals -- one Police Medal for Distinguished Service and six Police Medals for Meritorious Service.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was conferred eight police medals -- two Police Medals for Distinguished Service and six Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
The Special Protection Group (SPG) got six Police Medals for Meritorious Service.