Army honours for state police officers

IMPHAL, Nov 7: A special Army Awards Investiture Ceremony was conducted at the Red Shield Auditorium of HQ 57 Mtn Div today in honour of six brave police officers of Manipur and New Delhi who have been awarded the Eastern Army Commander`s Commendation Card, presided by Maj Gen Shakti Gurung, VSM, GOC, 57 Mtn Div in the presence of senior Police and Army officials.

In his welcome address, Maj Gen Shakti Gurung, VSM highlighted the tremendous potential of the people of Manipur, its rich heritage and natural resources. He highlighted the need for peace and security to prevail for the development of the State and thanked the Police and Civil administration for all the assistance and support provided.

Tracing the precise, well coordinated and surgical operations conducted by 57 Mtn Div over the last year, Maj Gen Shakti Gurung, VSM highlighted the fact that numerous UG hideouts were destroyed in and around Loktak Lake with zero collateral damage, or casualties to innocent civilians. This, the GOC mentioned, was an outcome of the excellent rapport and synergy shared by the Army and Police in Manipur. In fact, this cooperation has been often cited as an example for other states to emulate.

Maj Gen Shakti Gurung, VSM reached out to the misguided youth who had been forced to join UG cadres at tender ages while their leaders lived luxurious lives in foreign countries and big Metro cities. He exhorted these misguided youth to accept the Govt`s excellent and honourable surrender policy. This would give them a second chance to live a normal life with their parents and children.

The seven awards conferred on police officials from Bishenpur District and New Delhi is perhaps the first time that so many Army awards have been given in a single year to a different organisation.

In the glittering and solemn ceremony, the Police Officials awarded the Eastern Army Commander`s Commendation Card were, Mr Jayanta Singh, Superintendent of Police, Bishenpur, Mr Sudhir Kumar Metei, Inspector, Bishenpur Police Cdos (Two Awards), Mr S Chandra Kumar, Inspector, Bishenpur Police Cdos, Mr P Sanjoy Singh, Sub-Inspector, Bishenpur Police Cdos, Mr BL Vaiphei, Sub-Inspector, Bishenpur Police Cdos, Mr Krishan Giri, Encounter Specialist, Delhi Police.

The GOC requested the DGP Manipur to recognise these awards as being equivalent, if not more superior, than Police awards. Due weightage should be given to the individuals who have won these awards in their overall career profile.