Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal has decided to recommend slain inspector Mohan Chand Sharma’s name for President’s Police Medal posthumously. The decision comes on Sharma’s 43rd birthday on Wednesday.

“He was one of the best officers who could track terrorists and find out their exact location through technical analysis. His name will be recommended for the medal and he deserves it,” said Alok Kumar, DCP (Special Cell). Sharma died in an encounter with suspected terrorists on September 19.

During his career spanning 19 years, Sharma was part of investigations in all major terror-related cases — like the Red Fort attack, the Parliament attack and the 2005 Diwali blasts. He was considered the “lifeline of the Special Cell”.

“He deserves this medal, but this would have been of more importance if he were alive,” said one of his colleagues who did not want to be named. The Delhi Police has decided to announce a cash reward for Sharma’s family, but the amount has not been decided yet.

The President Police Medal, if approved, will be presented to his family on Republic Day, said a senior officer. Sharma had earlier won two President Police Medals in 2003 and 2007. He also won four Police Medals for gallantry in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005. In all, he received around 150 awards, including recommendations and appreciation from different agencies other than the Delhi Police.

On his 43th birthday, Sharma’s colleagues and senior officers, including Joint CP Karnal Singh, DCP Alok Kumar, ACPs Sanjeev Yadav, L N Rao and Ravi Shankar, and other officers of the Special Cell remembered him at a gathering on Wednesday evening.

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