The official force-wise list shows that 152 Chhattisgarh Police personnel have been recognised: 141 for gallantry, one with the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service and 10 with the Medal for Meritorious Service. The scale of the tally places the state at the centre of this year’s national honours for police bravery and public service.

Why Chhattisgarh’s tally stands out

The difference is striking. Jammu and Kashmir Police received 38 gallantry medals, the Central Reserve Police Force 24, the Border Security Force 20, Maharashtra Police 20 and Uttar Pradesh Police 12. Chhattisgarh Police alone accounted for 141 of the 272 gallantry medals awarded in the police-service category.

Across the Police, Fire, Home Guard, Civil Defence and Correctional Services, the Centre announced 1,057 medals. These comprised 301 Medals for Gallantry, 92 President’s Medals for Distinguished Service and 664 Medals for Meritorious Service.

The Home Ministry said 197 of the 301 gallantry medals were linked to actions in Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas. Chhattisgarh’s record tally therefore carries particular significance for a force that has spent years operating in the difficult forest terrain of Bastar and other Maoist-affected districts.

Senior officers and frontline personnel recognised

The gallantry list includes personnel across ranks, from senior IPS officers to constables and members of specialised units. Inspector General Sunderraj Pattilingam, Additional Superintendent of Police Robinson Guria, Senior Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela and Additional Superintendent of Police Smruthik Rajanala are among the officers named.

Constables Late Nitesh Ekka and Late Ramesh Koreti have been awarded the Medal for Gallantry posthumously. Their inclusion gives the honours a deeply personal dimension, recognising service that ended in the ultimate sacrifice.

Deputy Inspector General Moti Lal Kotwani has been selected for the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service.

Ten receive meritorious-service medals

The 10 Chhattisgarh Police recipients of the Medal for Meritorious Service are:

Commandant Gayatri Singh

Commandant Om Prakash Sharma

Additional Superintendent of Police Deepmala Kashyap

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr Archana Jha

Deputy Commandant Rama Patel

Inspector Pinaki

Deputy Superintendent of Police Savita Singh Parihar

Assistant Commandant Brajesh Kumar Tiwari

Company Commander Rakesh Kumar Singh

Platoon Commander Nehru Lal

Recognition of courage under extreme risk

Gallantry medals recognise conspicuous courage while saving life and property, preventing crime or apprehending offenders. In Chhattisgarh, many personnel work in areas where operations involve dense forests, difficult access, improvised explosive devices and the constant possibility of ambush.

The unprecedented tally is consequently more than a ceremonial achievement. It is national recognition of the personnel who have carried the most dangerous burden of the fight against Maoist violence, while attempting to extend normal administration and security to remote communities.