Bhubaneswar: Additional Director General (ADG) Sanjeeb Panda and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Smitarani Mohanty have been selected for the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) on the 80th Independence Day.
They will be among the 17 police personnel from Odisha, who will be honoured on the occasion.
Panda, a 1994-batch IPS officer heading the state’s anti-Naxal operations and special intelligence wing, was recently promoted to the rank of Director General (DG) of Police in Odisha. He is also widely cited as a frontrunner for the post of the state’s next Director General of Police.
This apart, five personnel, including three commandos of Special Operations Group, will be awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry, and another 10 for Meritorious Service.
Odisha DGP Y B Khurania congratulated all the officers and personnel for receiving the honours. “These prestigious honours are a recognition of exceptional courage, dedication, professionalism and unwavering commitment to duty. Congratulations to all the medal recipients and their proud families. Your exemplary service continues to inspire the entire Odisha Police fraternity. Salute to your courage. Salute to your service. Salute to your dedication,” the post on his official X handle read.
Full List of Odisha Awardees
President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM)
Sanjeeb Panda, Additional Director General
Smitarani Mohanty, Deputy Superintendent of Police
Medal for Gallantry (GM)
Manmath Kumar Mohapatra, Sub-Inspector
Nirakar Bhue, Havildar
Santosh Gurung, Commando
Suman Pun, Commando
Suresh Chandra Puta, Commando
Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM)
Manoranjan Paikray, Deputy Superintendent of Police
Suresh Kumar Bal, Deputy Superintendent of Police
Gitanjali Panda, Inspector
Bhabesh Kumar Nayak, Deputy Commandant
Paresh Kumar Minati Nandan Pati, Assistant Commandant
Barun Kumar Naik, Sub-Inspector
Subash Chandra Trinath Gouda, Havildar
Prasanta Kumar Biswal, Havildar
Shyamali Biswas, Constable
Mustaque Alli Khan, Constable
The awards, released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, form part of a nationwide recognition honouring 1,057 personnel across police, fire, civil defence, home guards, and correctional services. The majority of the gallantry awards have been given to personnel who served in areas affected by Left-Wing Extremism.