PATNA, Jan. 26 -- In recognition of distinguished services, 22 personnel of Bihar Police were conferred police medals on the eve of Republic Day. While three officers, including DG (operation) Kundan Krishnan, were awarded the Medal for Gallantry (GM), two were awarded the President's Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and 17, including IG (CID) Daljit Singh, got the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM). Kundan Krishnan, who was Saran SP at the time of the "free the jail" incident, sub-inspector Arjun Lal, and constable Jitendra Singh are GM awardees. Officials of police headquarters said on March 30, 2002, five inmates of the Chhapra divisional jail were killed and seven received bullet injuries when CRPF and BMP commandos led by then SP Kundan Krishnan stormed the jail, ending its three-day siege by over 1,200 inmates in protest against the state governments move to transfer five hardcore prisoners to other jails. The police had lobbed 51 teargas shells and emptied 234 bullets on rioting inmates inside the crammed jail. Two inmates had died in the exchange of fire and Kundan's one arm was fractured in brickbatting by the prisoners. Trouble began in the jail when a team of officials reached there to bring out Vakil, Chhotka Singh and Ashok Upadhyay for transferring them to Buxar jail and Sanjay Rai, the then district board member, and Akshaywat Singh to the Bhagalpur jail. The irate mob of inmates subsequently captured the jail employees, forced them out and locked the jail from inside. They went on to the jail roof and raised slogans demanding that either the CM or the IG (prisons) should come to negotiate with them as they did not have trust in the district officials. Two officers honoured with PSM include DSP Umesh Lal Rajak and SI Navratna Kumar. Remaining 17 police personnel who have received MSM include IG Daljit Singh, Rajiv Ranjan II, Assistant IG and commandant Ajay Kumar Pandey, DSP Shailesh Mishra, SIs Ainul Haque, Manoj Kumar, Rishikesh Kumar, ASI Nagendra Pandey, head constables Sanjay Kumar Singh, Sukra Uraon, Dharmendra Kumar, Jawahar Lal Mandal, Umesh Kunar Singh, Om Prakash, Mohammad Rafi and constable Manoj Kumar Singh. Separately, two officers posted with CBI in Patna have also been awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service. The recipients are DSP Ruby Chaudhary and Head Constable Bhola Rai, both posted at the Anti-Corruption Branch. According to CBI officials, the officers were recognised for their effective action against corruption, successful investigation of complex cases and exemplary service, which has strengthened the organisation's credibility and efficiency. The police headquarters had recommended the names of over three dozen police officers, including IPS officers on the basis of its evaluation of good performance and outstanding track record....