Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Basavaraju Operation Officer Among Chhattisgarh Police Gallantry Medal Winners
Some police officers in a part of India called Chhattisgarh fight a dangerous group called Naxalites, or Maoists, who used guns to control villages for many years.
Every year, the government gives special bravery medals called gallantry medals to police officers who do very brave things.
This year, the Chhattisgarh Police won 141 of these medals — more than any other police force has ever won at one time.
One of the winners is the officer who helped stop a very important leader of the group named Basavaraju.
India's leader, Narendra Modi, said on Independence Day that the group has been completely beaten.
He said his government promised in 2014 to end the problem, and that it has now been crushed.
He also said that more than 3,500 police officers gave their lives to protect people.
Police teams from Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India also received medals.
Getting so many medals shows how hard and dangerous the police work has been.
The Chhattisgarh Police received 141 gallantry medals, the highest-ever tally for a state police or security organisation, out of 301 medals shortlisted by the President.
The Indian Police Service officer who led the operation that eliminated Maoist supreme commander Basavaraju is among the awardees; Robinson Guria, Additional SP (Operations) in Narayanpur, planned the operation with SP Prabhat Kumar.
PM Narendra Modi, speaking from the Red Fort on Independence Day, declared that Naxalism has been 'crushed completely,' fulfilling a pledge his government took in 2014.
Modi said more than 3,500 security personnel died to ensure people's security, a number he said outnumbers soldiers killed in wars.
The MHA said 197 of 301 gallantry awards went to personnel from Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas; 38 medals went to Bastar Fighters constables, while J&K Police and CRPF received 38 and 20 medals respectively.
- Who
- Chhattisgarh Police personnel and IPS officers, including the officer behind the Basavaraju operation, with PM Narendra Modi addressing the nation.
- What
- The Chhattisgarh Police received a record 141 gallantry medals — the highest ever for a state force — for anti-Naxal operations, while PM Modi declared Naxalism 'crushed completely.'
- When
- On India's Independence Day (August 15), when the medal list was announced and PM Modi spoke from the Red Fort.
- Where
- New Delhi and Chhattisgarh, including the Bastar districts Narayanpur, Kanker and Dantewada, plus Gadchiroli in Maharashtra.
- Why
- To recognise gallantry in fighting Left-Wing Extremism, in line with the central government's 2014 pledge to wipe out Naxalism.
- Gallantry medals awarded to Chhattisgarh Police
- 141 (highest-ever tally by a state force)
- Total medals shortlisted by the President
- 301
- Medals to Bastar Fighters constables
- 38
- Awards to personnel from LWE-affected areas
- 197
- Chhattisgarh Police medals in previous year
- 24
- Jammu & Kashmir Police medals
- 38
- CRPF medals
- 20
- Security personnel deaths cited by PM Modi
- More than 3,500