Bhawanipatna: DGP Abhay on Sunday awarded commendation discs for 2020-21 to 22 police personnel for their meritorious service.
Honouring the cops at a ceremony held here, the DGP lauded the exemplary work done by Odisha police in various fields. Reiterating his appeal to Maoists to shun violence and join the mainstream of the society, he commended the efforts of police in countering the Naxal menace in Kalahandi district. IG (Operations) Amitabh Thakur along with senior police officials were present.
Outstanding contributions in the fields of investigation and prosecution, counter-Maoist operations, drive against drug trafficking, organised crime, economic offence, cybercrime, recovery of arms/ammunition and execution of non-bailable warrants, among others are considered for selection of personnel for the DGP’s commendation.
The recipients of the commendation discs included Kalahandi SP Saravana Vivek M, Bolangir SP Kausalkar Nitin Dagdu, Commandant 4th SS Battalion of Malkangiri Durbasa Nayak, inspector of Nuapada Anirudha Muduli, inspectors of Balangir Tophan Bag and K Priyanka Routray, SI of Koraput Sangram Ksari Swain, one havildar, 6 constables and 7 personnel of Odisha Auxiliary Police Force (OAPF).
He also gave away awards to family members of 5 police officials who died of COVID. The deceased COVID warriors included Balangir DSP Sheshadeba Bariha, Balangir inspector Bijayananda Karkara, SI of Nabarangpur Ramchandra Agasti, ASI of Nabarangpur Kailash Chandra Behera and Havildar of Balangir Manoranjan Barik.