14 Gujarat policemen get President's medal

14 Gujarat policemen get President's medal
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

Ahmedabad, Aug 15: Fourteen Gujarat police officials including an official of the rank of Inspector-General of Police were awarded the prestigious President's Medal for their outstanding services to the nation. The awardees list, which includes four IPS officials, was made available to the State Home Department on Monday late night.

Joint Commissioner of City Police (Crime) S K Saikia was the only officer from the state police who was given the most pretigious `President's Medal for Distinguished Service' while the rest 13 officials were given President's Medal for meritorious service.

An official of 1977 batch of the Indian Police Service, S K Saikia also served the Central Bureau of Investigation for a long stint in the disrupted areas of Meghalaya. Known as an officer with much intelligence Saikia also reignited the Anti-terrorist Squad of the state police before taking his new charge as Joint Commissioner of Crime Branch.

Known as `an officer and a gentleman' Saikia seemed happy when The Indian Express contacted him on Monday night. ``I came to know in the late evening and definitely I am happy for being one of the awardees in the country,'' he said.

This includes, Mehsana District SP, Ashish Bhatia, A K Singh, Kutch-Bhuj District SP and commandant of the State Reserve Police, (Group-1), Vadodara, J L Rana among the IPS officials.

Other awardees were, Vadodara police inspector, M U Mirza, inspector of Gandhinagar district police, D J Vaghela, inspector of Surat police, N N Patel, sub-inspector Kheda district police, B J Raval, sub-inspector of Gandhinagar district police, S F Saiyeed, G D Suryavanshi, assistant sub-inspector of Surat Rural police, head constable of Bhuj police, N H Patel, head constable of Rajkot police, R H Vala, unarmed constable of Gandhinagar police, L K Patel and another constable of Gandhinagar district police, P N Rajguru.