In a heartwarming ceremony celebrating courage, compassion, and professional excellence, seventeen personnel from the Lucknow Police and fire services were honoured for their outstanding contributions. The event, organised under the aegis of the Times of India and NBT, recognised acts ranging from cracking brutal crimes to rescuing lives and reuniting missing children with their families.
Heroic Acts Recognised and Rewarded
Alambagh police station house officer (SHO) Inspector Subhash Chandra received the Best Investigation Award for his swift action in a harrowing case. On June 5, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl was abducted near the Alambagh bus station. Inspector Chandra and his team meticulously scanned hundreds of CCTV cameras, traced the accused, identified as Deepak Verma of Para, and neutralised him in an encounter within a remarkable 23 hours.
Woman Sub-Inspector Gaurav Kumari was conferred the Mission Shakti Award for her exemplary sensitivity in handling women-related cases. In one instance in October at Aminabad police station, she intervened in a domestic harassment complaint, counselled both parties, ensured legal awareness, and facilitated the reunion of a broken family within 15 days. Over the last three months, she has successfully resolved 29 cases under the Mission Shakti initiative.
Sub-Inspector Neha Kumari, posted at the Women Police Station (North Zone), was honoured as the Best Woman Cop of the City. During her Navratri duty near Chandrika Devi temple, she found a six-year-old lost girl, comforted her, and traced her family within six hours through public announcements.
Diverse Excellence Across the Force
The awards also highlighted diverse talents and consistent dedication within the force. Constable Pushpa Yadav was felicitated for winning a gold medal in wrestling at the Under-23 Asian Championship. Head Constable Amit Kumar Singh received the Most Cases Solved in a Year Award for the incredible feat of recovering 101 missing girls and young women.
From the fire services, Fireman Ashok Kumar was awarded the Fire Safety Award. He rescued 15 children trapped in a factory fire in Aliganj, an act of bravery during which he sustained severe spinal injuries.
Recognition Fuels Further Dedication
Senior police officials praised the initiative for its positive impact on morale. Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Babloo Kumar expressed gratitude to the Times of India Group, stating that such events motivate the police force to perform beyond their routine duties. DCP (Police Headquarters) Anil Kumar Yadav emphasised that honouring talent and dedication is a matter of pride and inspires officers to continue their good work.
The awardees themselves shared how the recognition reinforced their commitment. Traffic Sub-Inspector Shavak Kumar Singh, who saved a man's life by administering CPR on Latouche Road, said the honour strengthened his sense of duty. Hazratganj SHO Vikram Singh and Gudamba SHO Prabhatesh Srivastava noted that appreciation increases dedication and motivates colleagues through example.
Woman Constable Jayvanti Devi, posted at Wazirganj police station, spoke about the immense satisfaction derived from helping destitute and elderly women secure pensions, work she feels is a core part of police duty though rarely acknowledged. Constable Ajay Kumar Yadav, a sports quota recruit who won gold at the European Judo Championship, said the recognition boosted his confidence.
Other recipients, including Dial 112 Sub-Inspector Shivanandan Singh (honoured as the oldest serving policeman), Madiaon SHO Shivanand Mishra, Cyber Crime Cell SI Prashant Kumar Verma, Kaiserbagh cyber cell SI Rahul Nain, and Mission Shakti SI Pragati Singh, all echoed that such public encouragement motivates them to uphold professional integrity and give their best to society.
Omaxe Limited managing director Mohit Goel commended the Times Group's Police Pride Facilitation initiative as a truly commendable effort to honour the guardians of law and order.
