(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM) by Abul Hasan:

Historic Ceremony Held at Rani Avanti Bai Stadium, Lanji

Bhopal, May 12, 2025 : In a historic event held at Rani Avanti Bai Stadium in Lanji, 64 valiant police personnel from Balaghat and Mandla districts were honored with out-of-turn promotions in recognition of their exceptional bravery and contribution to anti-Naxal operations. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav personally awarded promotion badges to the officers in a grand ceremony attended by senior police officials and public representatives.

The Chief Minister praised the Madhya Pradesh Police for their relentless efforts in eradicating Naxalism from the state. He emphasized that the government’s surrender policy offers a second chance to misguided Naxalites by providing them employment, financial support, housing, and vocational training for rehabilitation.

Notable attendees at the event included: State Minister in charge of Balaghat Uday Pratap Singh, Special DGP Pankaj Kumar Srivastava, IG Balaghat Sanjay Kumar, the DIG, Collectors Mrinal Meena, SPs of Balaghat and Mandla—Nagendra Singh and Rajat Saklecha respectively—and Hawk Force Commander Shiyaz K. M., among many others.

Key Acts of Bravery Recognized:

Ronda Encounter (Feb 19, 2025): Four hardcore Naxalites, carrying a combined bounty of ₹62 lakh, were neutralized by the Balaghat Hawk Force.
Kothiyatola Encounter (July 8, 2024): Joint forces eliminated a Naxalite with a ₹14 lakh reward on his head.
Chuchurungpur Arrest (Sept 5, 2024) A ₹14 lakh bounty female Naxalite was captured alive.
Ganeridadar-Mundidadar Encounter (Apr 2, 2025): Two high-reward Naxalites (₹28 lakh combined) were eliminated by Mandla Hawk Force.

DGP Highlights Strategic Gains:
During his address, Kailash Makwana, the Director General of Police highlighted key administrative support from the government, including the sanctioning of 325 new posts for the Hawk Force and 850 for the Special Security Unit (SSU). He emphasized that young IPS and DSP officers are being posted to Naxal-affected areas, accelerating operations. He reiterated the goal of complete Naxal elimination in Madhya Pradesh by March 2026.

This ceremony marked a first-of-its-kind event, where 64 officers received out-of-turn promotions on a single platform—an unprecedented recognition of courage and commitment.