(L) AB Constable Rel Deo Sangma

Details of duty leading to the death of the Martyr - On 6.12.2008, a source information was received by Police that some members of the armed militant outfit, self-styled, 'Liberation of Achik Elite Force' were present in Damit village under Shallang Out Post, West Khasi Hills District.
An operations team led by Shri. G.D. Kharwanlang, MPS, Dy. Superintendent of Police (HQ) along with the Special Operations Team left Nongstoin for conducting CI Ops. in the said village. On 07.12.2008 at about 8:00 Am while moving within Dymit village, the party approached the house at the village by giving cover to each other.
As the operation progressed, (Late) Rel Deo Sangma was on the front and on reaching near the said house (Late) Rel Deo Sangma called loudly to the inmates / LAEF cadres to come out and lay down their arms/weapons but none complied to the call and the said constable repeated the same several times. Instead, suddenly there was firing from inside the house towards the Police team. The Police team took position and retaliated in self defence, in which an encounter ensued which lasted for about 10 (ten) minutes.
Suddenly (Late) Rel Deo Sangma made a tactical move and jumped to a place where he could overlook the militants and fired directly at them.
He hit one of the militants and was able to neutralize him. (Late) Rel Deo Sangma then made a call to the Police team to advance forward with him providing fire cover.
As the Police team followed the course, the militants started running out and at the same time fired at the Police team from their sophisticated weapons.
During the encounter, (Late) Rel Deo Sangma chose to be in the firing line and cleared the way for his other colleagues to intercept the other militants and unfortunately one bullet hit him, and he succumbed to his injuries.
The slain militant was identified as Khimre Marak, a self-styled Commander of the LAEF. From the place of occurrence an AK series automatic rifle, three rounds of AK series ammunitions and one wallet containing cash Rs.2,500/- were recovered and seized.
The Police team managed to arrest one of the militant. (Late) Rel Deo Sangma made the supreme sacrifice in the call of duty.(Late) Rel Deo Sangma was a recipient of the Governor's Police Medal for Gallantry in 2008. He was awarded with the Kirti Chakra (posthumously) on the occasion of the Republic Day Celebration, 2010 at New Delhi. The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. It is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards; it comes after Ashoka Chakra and before Shaurya Chakra