Bhubaneswar: Seventeen police personnel from Odisha have been selected for Gallantry and Service Medals announced by the Union Government for the occasion of Independence Day 2026.
According to the medal lists released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, a total of 1,057 personnel from the Police, Fire, Home Guard & Civil Defence and Correctional Services across the country have been conferred Gallantry and Service Medals.
Of the 301 Medal for Gallantry awards, 272 went to police personnel and 29 to fire service personnel. Regionally, 197 of the awardees are from Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, 51 from Jammu & Kashmir, 12 from the Northeast and 41 from other regions.
Odisha Police has been awarded five Medals for Gallantry (GM), two President’s Medals for Distinguished Service (PSM) and 10 Medals for Meritorious Service (MSM) on the occasion of Independence Day 2026.
The Odisha section of the list includes five personnel for the Medal for Gallantry (GM). They are Sub-Inspector Manmath Kumar Mohapatra, Havildar Nirakar Bhue, and Commandos Santosh Gurung, Suman Pun and Suresh Chandra Puta.
Besides, two Odisha Police officers — Additional Director General Sanjeeb Panda and Deputy Superintendent of Police Smitarani Mohanty — have been selected for the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM).
Also, another 10 personnel from Odisha have been selected for the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM). And the list includes Deputy Superintendent of Police Manoranjan Paikray, Deputy Superintendent of Police Suresh Kumar Bal, Inspector Gitanjaleе Panda, Deputy Commandant Bhabesh Kumar Nayak, Assistant Commandant Paresh Kumar Minati Nandan Pati, Constable Shyamali Biswas, Sub-Inspector Barun Kumar Naik, Havildar Subash Chandra Trinath Gouda, Constable Mustaque Alli Khan and Havildar Prasanta Kumar Biswal.
These awards recognise the courage, distinguished service and meritorious contributions of these officers and personnel of the Odisha Police.
