Bhubaneswar: This Republic Day, Odisha has secured five President’s medals across police, fire service, home guard and prison organisations. According to the ministry of home affairs, 26 personnel from these four wings have been honoured with medals in three categories — President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), Gallantry Medal (GM) and Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).
The prestigious PSM, awarded for an outstanding record of service, has been conferred upon ADG Prateek Mohanty and DCP-ranked officer Prafulla Kumar Singh (police), leading firefighter Arjuna Behera (fire service), Ramesh Chandra Mohanty (home guard) and warder Sadashiva Pradhan (prison and correctional service). For acts of exceptional bravery in saving lives, protecting property, preventing crime or apprehending criminals, the gallantry medal has been awarded to DSP Atul Krishna Das, ASI Purna Chandra Pradhan and constables Ghanashyam Sahoo and Thabir Majhi. A total of 17 personnel —11 from police, three from fire service, two from home guard and one from correctional service — have been honoured with medal for meritorious service, which is awarded for valuable service marked by resourcefulness and dedication. In a related announcement, the state govt has selected 15 police personnel — ranging from IGP, SP, ASP, DSP, inspector, sub-inspector, ASI, havildar and constable — for the governor’s medal 2025. They will be felicitated during the Republic Day celebrations on Monday.
