Deputy Commandant Dharam Chand of 35th Battalion and Lance Naik Toophan Singh of 20th Battalion were presented the letters and the discs by the Additional Director General, North West Region, J.P. Verma, at a function organised at the CRPF Group Centre, Pinjore, today.

Dharam Chand (then Assistant Commandant) had acted on specific information and captured two PLA activists when posted in the north east.

Toophan Singh (now constable) was commended for saving the life of his company commander during counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir in September 1998.

On the occasion, Kashu Devi, the widow of a CRPF trooper, L/Nk Kalu Ram who had been killed in action, was presented an ex-gratia payment of Rs.5.5 lakhs.

Kalu Ram was driving the lead vehicle of a CRPF convoy ferrying two platoons on an operation in Assam in October 1997, when they were ambushed by about 20 ULFA terrorists.

Despite being wounded, Kalu Ram managed to keep control of his vehicles and was able to drive away from the fire zone.

The DIG, Chandigarh Range, S.C. Rarh and the Additional DIG, Group Centre, S.S. Rawat, were also present on the occasion.