Late SI Amitava Malik to receive CM's Bravery Award 2017 posthumously

Incidentally, the Darjeeling Hills had been in the grip of agitation since June 8, 2017 which included a 104-day bandh which had ended on September 26.

There were incidents of violence, arson, explosions and rioting. As the agitators locked horns with security personnel, 13 lives were lost during the period of agitation.

On October 13, 2017, a police team had raided the jungles of Shirubari forest on the banks of Chota Rangeet river, 25 km from Darjeeling, in search of GJM president Bimal Gurung.

There was an alleged exchange of fire between the police and Gurung's supporters. SI Malik, who was in hot pursuit, fell prey to a bullet allegedly fired by Gurung's supporters.

A huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered by the police from the spot. His wife was later given a job in the police department.

Along with Late Malik, other awardees of the Chief Minister's Bravery Award include Akhilesh Chaturvedi, Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling; Soumyajit Roy, IC Sadar, Darjeeling and SI Abhijit Biswas of Sadar PS, Darjeeling.

The recipients of the Shourya Padak 2017 include Nagendra Nath Tripathi, Commandant, SAP (10th Battalion;) Amarnath K, SP (Operations,) Darjeeling; Rahul Pandey, DSP (HQ,) Darjeeling; Kiran Tamang, Assistant Commandant, 2nd IRB and Shyamal Barman, Constable, SAP.

Assistant Commandant Kiran Tamang was critically injured on June 17 during sporadic clashes between the GJM supporters and the security forces. The Army had to be deployed on that day to bring the situation under control.

The list was notified by Alok Kumar Bhaumik, OSD and Ex-officio Joint Secretary to the government of West Bengal.