**Bhubaneswar: ** Prestigious police medals were given away to 13 officers and personnel of Odisha Police by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Jayadev Bhawan here on the august occasion of 71st Independence Day.
1993-batch IPS Sushant Kumar Nath, at present the IG (Northern Range) and Dillip Das (SP, Headquarters) received President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PPMDS) from the Odisha Chief Minister along with Rs 15,000 cash award and citation to each accorded by the State Government.
Similarly, Police Medal for Meritorious Service (PMMS) was also given away by the Chief Minister to 11 officials of our State Police from different ranks for their performance on duty along with Rs 7000 cash award and citation to each accorded by the State Government.
Notably, they were all selected to receive the police medals on the eve of Republic Day this year.
The other recipients of the PMMS are:
(1) S. Shyni, IPS, D.I.G of Police, SWR, Koraput, (2) V. Raghunath Rao, OPS-I, Additional SP, Koraput, (3) Dilip Kumar Purohit, OPS, SDPO, Titilagarh, Bolangir, (4) Bibhudhendu Sahoo, OPS, DSP, Vigilance Directorate, Cuttack, (5) Suryamani Pradhan, Inspector of Police, Bhubaneswar UPD, (6) Geeta Rani Sethi, Inspector of Police, Security Wing, Bhubaneswar, (7) Pramod Kumar Sahoo, Inspector of Police, Special Branch, Bhubaneswar, (8) Dalabandhu Pradhan, S.I of Police (Retired), Koraput, (9) Subash Chandra Mishra, ASI of Police, CID, CB, Odisha, Cuttack, (10) Mohan Chandra Mallick, Havildar, Kalahandi and (11) Rameswar Naik, Constable, Kalahandi.
Greeting all of them on the occasion, the CM said, “My congratulations to all the police officers and men who received medals for their outstanding service. I hope they will work more dedicatedly in the service of nation,” he said.
In his media reactions, IG Sushant Kumar Nath said, “I’m feeling very proud. If the youngsters are committed and work sincerely, they will bear the fruit one day. But, one should keep on discharging duty with commitment and utmost sincerity least bothered about the personal gain.”
Another PPMDS awardee Dillip Das said, “It’s certainly a happy moment and I’m elated. On being awarded, we’re now feeling encouraged. It will definitely spur up our dutifulness and boost up to perform better so that the name and fame of Odisha Police is further enhanced.”
A common man Lalmohan Mohanta has also been conferred with ‘Jeevan Raksha Padak’ by the President of India for the year 2016 in recognition of his life saving act.
In his reactions after receiving it from the Chief Minister, Lalmohan Mohanta said, “I’m very delighted to get this medal. On this occasion I would like to exhort all that we should try our level best to save a life in danger instead of lending it a blind eye.”
Geetarani Sethi said, “There is difference between field work and in the office chamber. After receiving the medal the pangs of the field work has now vanished. The award has encouraged but has obviously augmented sense of responsibility.”
Dilip Kumar Purohit said, “Our police department is to serve the general public. Hence, I would like to give a message to all, ‘Be friendly with police and strengthen your security.’ For my police brethren my message goes that we should try our level best to serve the public.”
Suryamani Pradhan said, “I’m elated being awarded with the police medal. It now inspires to perform better. Future generation should work dedicatedly and such award will automatically be theirs. Sincere work is itself an award.”