Nagpur: A power duo taking on Maoist challenges in one of Maharashtra’s toughest terrains, Gadchiroli, with sheer grit and determination, all while lacking the advanced technology of today.
But this isn’t fiction — this is the story of Arti Singh, currently IGP (Administrative), and Chandrakishor Mina, IG (anti-terrorism squad). At a time when Maoists posed grave challenges, leading to significant police and civilian casualties, they operated without the technological advancements available today, holding critical positions in one of Maharashtra’s most demanding regions.
Recognising their contributions, the Union govt has awarded the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service to four distinguished officers — Arti Singh, Chandrakishor Meena, Sanjay Darade, and Roshan Yadav.
Singh, an IPS officer from the 2006 batch, has held several pivotal positions across Maharashtra, including Superintendent of Police (SP) for Nagpur Rural, SP CID Nagpur, and SP for Vidarbha region. Her career began in Gadchiroli as Additional SP in 2008, followed by tenures as SP in Bhandara, Aurangabad, and Nashik Rural. She later served as Commissioner of Police in Amravati City and Additional CP in Mumbai City, before taking on her current role as Special IGP (Administration) for the state police. Known for her hands-on approach and ability to connect with ground-level staff, Singh’s exemplary service has been recognised with numerous awards, including the DG Insignia in 2011, the Maharashtra home minister’s ‘Corona Yoddha’ award, among others.
Meena, also from the 2006 IPS batch, currently leads as Special IG for the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). His career is marked by a series of milestones, including a pivotal anti-Naxal operation in Gadchiroli in 2009, which culminated in the Petha encounter, weakening Maoist activities in the region. This operation earned him the DG Insignia and solidified his reputation as a strategic leader. As SP in Akola and Nanded, Mina’s innovative methods maintained communal harmony and dismantled organised crime syndicates using MCOCA and MPDA cases. He played a key role in exposing a state-wide kidney transplant racket and detecting a recruitment scam that impacted the entire state.
Sanjay Darade, an IPS officer of the 2005 batch, is another recipient of the prestigious award. Known for his expertise in handling sensitive investigations and combating corruption, Darade currently serves in the city. His contributions include leading successful operations during the 2014 Assembly elections in Yavatmal and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Konkan. In Nashik Rural, he spearheaded a significant arms seizure operation that recovered 44 rifles, revolvers, and over 4,000 live cartridges. Darade’s meticulous planning during the 2015 Nashik Kumbh Mela earned him widespread acclaim.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Roshan Yadav, currently posted with the Anti-Corruption Bureau in Nagpur, has also been honoured for his relentless efforts against corruption and his contributions to addressing serious crimes in sensitive areas like Gadchiroli and Gondia. Since joining the police force as a sub-inspector in 1995, Yadav has undergone training, including Greyhound Commando training in Hyderabad, and served in diverse roles across the crime branch, Special Protection Unit, Police Training School, and Cybercrime divisions in Nagpur and Chandrapur. Yadav’s notable achievements include leading operations against inter-state gangs involved in ATM thefts, robberies, and other organised crimes as well as significant contributions to Naxal operations in dense forest areas.
