CHENNAI: Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam honoured several dignitaries by presenting them with awards, including the Anna Medal for Gallantry during the Republic Day celebrations here on Thursday. The Anna Medal for Gallantry 2017 was awarded to W. Durgadevi from Vellore district for her brave act in saving her classmate G. Nandhini who accidentally fell into slushy water last year. A cheque for Rs 1 lakh along with a medal worth Rs 5,000 besides a certificate was presented to her by the Chief Minister.

A.M. Ikram of Vellore district received the Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony award for working towards maintaining communal harmony. The award is presented for outstanding services to promote communal harmony and it carries a medal, cheque for Rs 25,000 and a certificate. The Gandhi Adigal Police medal to police officers who have rendered yeoman service to curtail illicit liquor was presented to Nagapattinam district Additional Superintendent of Police, Prohibition Enforcement Wing, P. Thangadurai. The Chief Minister also awarded the Gandhi Adigal Police medal to Central Investigation Unit (North), Deputy Superintendent of Police, K Jeevanandam which detected spurious liquor unit in Erode district.


Inspector E. Velu (Prohibition Enforcement Wing), Adyar unit, Sub-inspector of Police, Central Investigation Unit, K Ramesh Kumar, Special Sub-Inspector of Police, V. Madhappan were also presented with this medal by Mr Panneerselvam who also gave away a Special award instituted by the Agriculture department to farmer M. Sankara Narayanan for generating highest yield in cultivation of paddy. The award carries a purse of Rs. five lakh and a medal worth Rs 3,500.