CM Yadav presents KF Rustamji awards to 101 officers:DGP shares inspiring story of father resigning from DSP role after training accident injuries

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav conferred 101 police officers and personnel with the K.F. Rustamji Award, during a ceremony held at Ravindra Bhawan in Bhopal on Monday. The awards were presented for outstanding service during the years 2019-20 and 2021-22. Chief Minister Yadav conferred the honours in the presence of Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana. Additional Director Generals Chanchal Shekhar and Adarsh Katiyar were also present at the event. CM promises housing support for police personnel Addressing the gathering, CM Mohan Yadav said the state government would speak with housing boards and development authorities to provide housing facilities for police personnel within the districts where they are posted and eligible. He said caring for police personnel and their welfare was an important responsibility of the government. KF Rustamji awards started in 2013 Speaking at the ceremony, DGP Kailash Makwana said the KF Rustamji Awards were instituted in 2013 and have since become a prestigious recognition for police bravery and professional excellence. He said the awards being presented this year covered pending honours for 2019-20 and 2021-22. After administrative approvals and budgetary clearances, the award process was completed. According to the DGP, a total of 418 police officers and personnel have been honoured under the scheme since its inception. The awards are given for achievements in anti-dacoity operations, anti-Naxal campaigns, riot control, maintaining law and order during sensitive situations, acts of bravery, and professional efficiency. Awards presented in three categories The awards were distributed under three categories: CM says awards should be given every year Chief Minister Yadav said he felt proud while honouring police personnel who had shown courage and dedication in service. He noted that earlier, awards used to be presented after a gap of two years, but the government would now attempt to ensure annual distribution so that no awards remain pending. The CM observed that some officers received honours after retirement, which may leave them feeling that recognition should ideally come during active service. ‘MP police capable of tackling every challenge’ The Chief Minister praised the contribution of KF Rustamji, calling him an extraordinary personality who played a major role in strengthening police infrastructure across Madhya Pradesh during a period when the state was geographically larger and administratively complex. He said the police force had successfully eliminated dacoit networks and recently made the state Naxal-free, proving its capability to tackle every challenge. The CM also announced that the financial powers for police rewards had been increased, allowing senior officers below the rank of DGP to grant higher reward amounts. He assured full government support for innovation and reforms within the police department. 10,000 police recruitments planned in 2026 Referring to recruitment plans, CM Yadav said around 10,000 posts would be filled in the police department in 2026, including sub-inspectors and other positions. He added that after these appointments, only around 5,000 to 6,000 vacancies would remain in the force. The Chief Minister also said recruitment for police bands had been initiated and efforts were underway to provide housing facilities for police personnel through coordination with housing boards and local authorities. DGP shares emotional story about his father During his address, DGP Kailash Makwana shared a personal story about his father, who had been selected as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the 1968 batch. Makwana said his father suffered a serious spinal injury in a bus accident during police training and was later advised by doctors not to continue in the police force due to the risk of paralysis. As a result, he had to resign from the DSP post and later rejoined government service as a Naib Tehsildar before eventually retiring as a Deputy Collector. The DGP said when he himself was selected into the police force in 1988, his father felt proud that his son would serve in the khaki uniform he himself could not continue wearing. Rustamji played key role in BSF formation Makwana said KF Rustamji served as the head of Madhya Pradesh Police from 1958 to 1965 and played a key role in anti-dacoity operations. Later, during the backdrop of the 1965 Indo-Pak war, Rustamji became the founding Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), contributing significantly to India’s internal security framework. State targets drug-free Madhya Pradesh The DGP said the state government aimed to make Madhya Pradesh free from narcotic drugs over the next three years. He added that lakhs of students had participated in community policing campaigns promoting awareness against substance abuse. Makwana also highlighted cybercrime as a major emerging challenge and said an e-Zero FIR system had been introduced in December 2025 for cyber fraud complaints involving amounts above Rs 1 lakh. He further said the police department had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Heartfulness Institute for stress management programmes for police personnel. Officers and Personnel honoured Several officers and personnel from various units, including ATS, Special Branch, Cyber Cell, district police forces, and battalions across Madhya Pradesh, were honoured with the KF Rustamji Awards for exemplary service. Awardees included police superintendents, inspectors, sub-inspectors, constables, cybercrime officers, ATS personnel, and women police officials from districts including Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Sagar, Betul, Dewas, Rajgarh, and others. Cops confer by the CM and DGP K.F. Rustamji Award (Year 2019-20) K.F. Rustamji Award 2021-22