Uttar Pradesh Police Earns National Recognition with 90 Police Medals on Republic Day 2026
The Uttar Pradesh Police has brought significant national recognition to the state by securing an impressive total of 90 police medals. This remarkable achievement was announced on the eve of Republic Day 2026, highlighting the force's dedication and bravery across various challenging operations.
Breakdown of Prestigious Awards
The awards distribution includes 18 President's Medals for Gallantry, four President's Medals for Distinguished Service, and 68 Medals for Meritorious Service. Senior police officials have emphasized that these honours reflect the force's sustained efforts in combating organized crime, conducting successful high-risk encounters, and maintaining exemplary policing standards throughout Uttar Pradesh.
Notable Gallantry Operations and Recognitions
One of the major gallantry citations stems from the Achalganj encounter in Unnao, where a Special Task Force team neutralized history-sheeter Anuj Pratap in September 2024. Anuj was the prime accused in a ₹1.5 crore jewellery shop robbery-cum-murder case in Sultanpur, where the shop owner lost his life while resisting the robbery. For displaying exceptional courage during this operation, STF Inspector Santosh Kumar, Sub-Inspector Saurabh Mishra, and Head Constable Kavindra were awarded the President's Medal for Gallantry.
Another significant gallantry honour was awarded to the UP STF Varanasi unit for a daring operation on March 22, 2022, in the Lohata area of Varanasi. During this encounter, notorious criminal Manish Singh alias Sonu, who carried a ₹2 lakh reward, was eliminated. The gallantry medals were presented to Additional SP Vinod Kumar Singh, Inspector Amit Srivastava, Head Constable Baijnath Ram, and Head Constable Manoj Kumar Singh for their bravery.
Additional Courageous Encounters and Awards
In the Saharanpur encounter of March 16, 2020, four police personnel were honoured for confronting an armed criminal who was planning a major offence. Despite facing heavy firing that resulted in officer injuries and damaged bulletproof jackets, the police team successfully eliminated Abad, a dreaded criminal carrying a ₹50,000 reward. The gallantry medals were awarded to then Deputy SP Rajanish Kumar Upadhyay, Sub-Inspector Jarrar Hussain, Sub-Inspector Sunil Singh, and Constable Kunal Malik.
Another major operation recognized with gallantry medals involved STF Additional SP Rakesh, Deputy SP Dharmesh Kumar Shahi, Inspector Satya Prakash Singh, and Sub-Inspector Yashwant Singh. They were honoured for the encounter of Pankaj Yadav, a notorious sharpshooter linked to mafia don Mukhtar Ansari and carrying a ₹1 lakh bounty. Yadav was killed on August 7, 2024, near a forest area close to Farah police station in Mathura district.
Background on Notorious Criminal Pankaj Yadav
Pankaj Yadav had allegedly spread terror across eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for nearly 16 years and was involved in contract killings for organized crime syndicates. According to the STF, Yadav and his associates were heading towards Agra to carry out a planned murder and robbery of a businessman when they were intercepted near Rausu village on National Highway-19. This interception led to a gunfight in which Yadav was killed. Police records indicate that he was wanted in over two dozen cases, including multiple murders and other serious offences.
Comprehensive Recognition of Police Excellence
Apart from the gallantry awards, four officers received the President's Medal for Distinguished Service, while 68 personnel were honoured with the Medal for Meritorious Service. These awards collectively underscore the Uttar Pradesh Police's commitment to maintaining law and order, tackling organized crime, and ensuring public safety across the state. The recognition serves as a testament to the force's professionalism and courage in facing various challenges.
