Two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel who were killed in the line of duty in Congo in 2022 were awarded with President’s Medal for Gallantry posthumously on the eve of the 75th Republic Day.
Head Constables Sanwala Ram Vishnoi and Shishupal Singh were awarded with the medal 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, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement on Thursday.
Among the majority of the 277 Gallantry Awards, 119 personnel from Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, 133 personnel from Jammu and Kashmir region and 25 personnel form other regions are being awarded for their gallant action.
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As many as 275 gallantry medals 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, 8 personnel from Delhi, 65 personnel from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 21 personnel from Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
A total of 1,132 personnel of Police, Fire Service, Home Guard and Civil Defence and Correctional Service have been awarded Gallantry and Service Medals on the eve of Republic Day.
“The government has taken many steps in recent years to rationalise and transform the entire award eco system of various awards. In this regard, 16 Gallantry/Service Medals (for Police, Fire Service, Home Guard & Civil Defence and Correctional Service) have been rationalised and merged into following four medals- President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG), Medal for Gallantry (GM) President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM),” MHA said.
PMG and GM are awarded on the ground of are ‘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.
Out of 102 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), 94 have been awarded to Police Service, four Fire Service and four to Civil Defence& Home Guard Service. Out of 753 Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM), 667 have been awarded to Police Service, 32 to Fire Service, 27 to Civil Defence and Home Guard Service and 27 to Correctional Service.
