942 Police Medals to be given on I-Day, CRPF tops
New Delhi, Aug 14: The Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) constable Sharif-ud-Din Ganie and Head Constable Muhammad Tafail, who lost their lives in 2017 while fighting militants in Jammu and Kashmir, have been posthumously selected for the President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG) -- the highest police medal.
Their names are among the 942 Central and state police personnel whom the government has selected for 'Police Medals' on the 72nd Independence Day on Wednesday.
Ganaie and Tafail succumbed to their bullet injuries while fighting three Jaish-e-Mohammed militants who, on December 30, 2017 midnight, attacked the CRPF's South Kashmir-based Lethpora camp, one of the largest security establishments. Both the personnel were deployed in the CRPF's 185 Battalion.
Of the medal winners, 117 personnel have been selected for the Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG), 88 for President's Police Medal for Distinguished Services (PPM) and 675 for Police Medal for Meritorious Services, the Union Home Ministry announced on Tuesday, adding that the list of awardees was approved by President Ram Nath Kovind.
The 3.5 lakh strong paramilitary force bagged the highest number of 154 police medals. It is the only force whose two personnel were chosen for the PPMG awards posthumously. The force also bagged a record 89 PMG awards among all armed forces and 58 PM awards. The CRPF is in the fourth place in bagging PPM awards.
This is the highest-ever gallantry medals tally for the CRPF, a senior official said.
In the PMG awards list, the CRPF is followed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police (37), Odisha Police (11), Border Security Force (10), Maharashtra Police (8), Chhattisgarh Police (6), five each from Delhi and Meghalaya Police, Assam Police (3); and one each by Bihar, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh Police.
The Intelligence Bureau bagged the highest eight PPM awards followed by six each by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Uttar Pradesh Police; CRPF (5); four each by Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha Police and the Border Security Force; three each by the Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu Police forces; two each by Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Punjab, Telangana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal Police; and one each by Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura, Chandigarh and Lakshadweep Police.
The Sashastra Seema Bal, the National Investigation Agency, the National Disaster Response Force, Ministry of Home Affairs and Railways also bagged one award each.
Besides police medals, the President has approved Correctional Service Medals to 36 prison personnel. The list of awardees includes five President's Correctional Service Medal for Distinguished Service and 31 Correctional Service Medal for Meritorious Service.
A total of 59 personnel have been selected for Fire Service Medals. Of these, President's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry will be awarded to one, Fire Service Medal for Gallantry to three, President's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service to five and Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service to 50 personnel.
Fifty-five personnel have also been bestowed with Home Guard and Civil Defence Medals. Of these, President's Home Guard and Civil Defence Medal for Distinguished Service have been awarded to five personnel and Home Guard and Civil Defence Medal for Meritorious Service to 50 personnel.
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
