Shankar Bidari wins his second gallantry award from president

Bangalore police commissioner Shankar M Bidari has been awarded the president’s police medal for gallantry — his second — on the occasion of Republic Day.

Bidari had earlier won the gallantry award in 1991, followed by president’s medal in 1995, and the award for distinguished service in 2003.

The second gallantry award has made Bidari the most decorated police officer in state service. The award was given for his overall performance during the anti-Naxal operations and efforts made to nab dreaded brigand KM Veerappan.

The Andhra Pradesh government has earlier decorated Bidari with Shourya Padakam, for his operations against the Naxals in Gulbarga district. His team had then gunned down an extremist in an encounter.

Soon after his winning the Shourya Padakam, Karnataka honoured Bidari with a gold medal from the chief minister.
Bidari headed the special task force constituted to arrest Veerappan. He was known for his daredevilry during his stint as the STF chief.

Veerappan had once tried to snare Bidari. The officer and his men were greeted with a volley of bullets when they reached the brigand’s hideout in Talamalai forests on October 31, 1993.

The gunbattle that ensued made the sandalwood smuggler and his men retreat into the depths of the forest, leaving behind an injured gang member, Moolakar Mani alias Karangalure Mani.