Imphal: Additional Superintendent of Police, Thounaojam Brinda has returned her Chief Minister's Police Medal for Gallantry on Patriots' Day in 2018. She has conferred the award on August 13, 2018, in recognition to her service on 'War against Drug.'
The award was announced by the Governor of Manipur, Najma Heptulla. The award honours the Manipuri heroes, who have sacrificed their lives in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. She was awarded the medal for her bravery of fighting the war on drugs in Manipur.
However, two years after receiving the award, Th Brinda on December 18 has returned the Gallantry medal. Th Brinda took the decision as a protest against the ND&PS Court's release of the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Autonomous District Council (ADC) Chairman, Lhukhosei Zou along with six other individuals in a drug seizure case. She has expressed her dissatisfaction over how the case was handled.
In her letter to the Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh, Th Brinda wrote, " In recognition for this case as part of the Hon'ble Chief Minister's 'War Against Drugs', I was conferred the Chief Minister's Police Medal for Gallantry on the occasion of Patriot' Day, 13th August 2018."
She further wrote, " However, the investigation and prosecution have been deemed unsatisfactory by the Hon'ble ND&PS Court." Th Brinda mentioned that she morally felt that she has not conducted her duty as per the wishes of the Criminal Justice Delivery System of Manipur.
She, therefore, returned her medal. "I do not consider myself deserving of the honour bestowed upon me by your good self. I, therefore, return the same to the state Home Department so that it may be given to a more deserving and loyal police officer."