Thiruvananthapuram: The names of personnel from the Kerala Police and Forest Department who have been honoured for exceptional service came out on Thursday. 26 forest officials have been selected for the Chief Minister’s Forest Medal for their contributions to conservation, while eleven police personnel will receive the President’s Police Medal in connection with Independence Day celebrations.

Chief Minister’s Forest Medal

Recipients include Range Forest Officer Subair N.; Deputy Range Forest Officer Anandan K.V.; Section Forest Officers Muhammad Raushad K.J., Praveen P.U., Sabu J.B., Anandan P.V., Jijil K.; Beat Forest Officers Sajeesh Kumar G., Abhilash P.R., Ahalya Raj, Justin John, Aju T., Dilip Kumar M., Najeev P.M., Rajeev K.R., Greeshma M., Biju P., Suresh Babu C., Pradeep Kumar N.P., Cyril Sebastian, Sini T.M., and Sandeep K.O.; Forest Driver Jitesh P.; and Forest Watchers Shaji K.B., O.K. Rajendran, and Kalidas S.

The award recognises their service in preventing forest encroachment, investigating forest crimes, controlling fires, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, promoting participatory forest management, and supporting forest-dependent Scheduled Tribes.

11 Kerala Police officials awarded President’s Police Medal

SP Ajith Vijayan will receive the medal for distinguished service, while 10 others have been chosen for meritorious service. Awardees include Syamkumar Vasudevan Pilla (Superintendent of Police), Ramesh Kumar Parameswarakurupp Narayanakurupp (Superintendent of Police), Perayil Balakrishnan Nair (Additional Superintendent of Police), Pravi EV (Assistant Commandant), Preman U (DySP), Mohankumar Ramakrishna Panicker (Head Constable), Suresh Babu Vasudevan (Deputy Commandant), Ramadas Elayadath Puthanveettil (Inspector), Sajeesha KP (Head Constable), and Shinilal SS (Head Constable).

The medals will be presented during Independence Day celebrations on Friday. Across India, 1,090 police personnel have been honoured, including 233 with the Medal for Gallantry (GM), 99 with the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), and 758 with the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM), according to a Union Home Ministry statement.