₹25,000 Reward Each for 16 Police Officers and Personnel for Outstanding Anti-Narcotics Work Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil

Sangli : Soon after assuming the role of Guardian Minister for Sangli district, Higher and Technical Education and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri Chandrakant Patil had announced on Republic Day that strong action would be taken against drug traffickers, and commendable police officers and personnel involved in anti-narcotics operations would be rewarded. Fulfilling that promise, 16 police officers and personnel were each awarded ₹25,000 (totaling ₹4 lakh), with the amount funded personally by Minister Patil through his “Samvedana” charitable foundation.

Present at the award ceremony were District Collector Ashok Kakade, Superintendent of Police Sandeep Ghuge, Municipal Commissioner Satyam Gandhi, Miraj Sub-Divisional Officer Pranil Gilda, and Minister’s Special Officer Balasaheb Yadav among others.

In January this year, a large drug haul was seized in Vita. Recognizing the seriousness of the issue, Minister Patil had promptly ordered the formation of an Anti-Narcotics Task Force. He personally reviewed its performance on a weekly basis, giving the issue top priority. Ongoing operations, awareness drives, and strategic action by the task force have resulted in a significant reduction in drug-related crimes across the district.

Minister Patil emphasized that the success stemmed from a three-pronged approach: law enforcement, public awareness, and rehabilitation. Acknowledging this effective model, he praised the dedicated officers and staff who played key roles in cracking down on the drug trade. As a gesture of encouragement and gratitude, he honored their spouses by awarding cheques of ₹25,000 in their names for the education of their children. The funds came from his NGO, Samvedana.

Among the awardees were:

• Inspector Satish Shinde, API Jaydeep Kalekar, Head Constables Arun Patil and Sachin Dhotre, and Constable Vinayak Sutar from the Local Crime Branch.
• From Mahatma Gandhi Chowk Police Station: API Sandeep Shinde, PSI Sandeep Gurav, PSI Uday Kulkarni, Constable Nanasaheb Chandanshivhe, Constables Javed Shaikh and Mohsin Tinmaker.
• From Vita Police Station: Inspector Dhananjay Fadtare, PSI Jayashri Kamble, Head Constables Uttam Mali and Hemant Tambevagh, and Constable Mahesh Sankpal.

Cheques for officers who were absent were handed over to Inspector Satish Shinde for distribution.

Minister Patil’s commendation serves as both motivation and encouragement to honest officers, reinforcing the government’s stance: support the righteous and eliminate wrongdoing. This gesture also marks a socially significant step toward protecting future generations from the grip of narcotics.