Senior IPS officer Mr. Ajay Kumar Sahni, a 2009-batch officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been awarded the President’s Medal for Gallantry for the third time in his career. Known as an “encounter specialist” in the police force, Mr. Sahni has led over 50 encounters and is widely respected for his fearless leadership in high-risk operations.
Honoured for Exceptional Courage in 2020 Meerut Operation
The latest recognition comes for Mr. Sahni’s exceptional bravery during a dangerous armed operation in Meerut on Republic Day, January 26, 2020. At the time serving as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Meerut, he confronted two armed robbers who had committed multiple robberies in the Transport Nagar area and fled towards the Meerut-Delhi Bypass (NH-58).
According to the citation, the situation was described as a “do-or-die” open combat scenario. When the suspects were intercepted, they opened fire on the police team, injuring Station Officer Mr. Dinesh Kumar and Head Constable Mr. Manoj Kumar.
Despite being under direct threat and nearly struck by a bullet himself, Mr. Sahni led a courageous counterattack. In the ensuing gunfight, a notorious gangster, Chand alias Kale, who carried a bounty of Rs. 1 lakh and had over 40 criminal cases against him, was shot dead. Both injured officers were also awarded gallantry medals.
The citation praises Mr. Sahni’s bravery as “rarest among rare,” highlighting his leadership and presence of mind in a life-threatening encounter.
Previous Gallantry Recognitions
Mr. Sahni’s gallantry record is extensive. In February 2020, he led another major encounter in Meerut in which Mr. Shiv Shakti Naidu, the kingpin of Delhi’s infamous Naidu gang, was fatally wounded. Naidu, wanted in an Rs. 8 crore heist and carrying a reward of Rs. 1 lakh, was facing over a dozen cases across Delhi and multiple states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Mr. Sahni received a gallantry medal in 2021 for this operation.
He was also decorated for leading the elimination of Mr. Sujit Singh alias Budhwa, the head of the D-9 gang, who had escaped from Rampur Jail. The gangster, with a Rs. 50,000 bounty, was hiding in Azamgarh when Mr. Sahni led a successful operation against him. The D-9 gang, one of the most feared criminal networks in eastern Uttar Pradesh, was dismantled under his leadership.
Record of Service and Dedication
During his posting in Siddharthnagar in 2016, Mr. Sahni’s team apprehended several members of the infamous Bawaria gang following a fierce gunfight. A bullet struck his jacket during that operation, underscoring the personal risk he undertook.
With 52 encounters to his name, Mr. Sahni has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment to public safety and justice. His third President’s Medal for Gallantry solidifies his reputation as one of India’s most decorated and courageous police officers.
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