REGISTERED No, D-(D)-72
The Gazette of India
EXTRAORDINARY
PART I—Section 1
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 24] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 1976/MAGHA 6, 1897
Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed
as a Separate compilation
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Revenue and Insurance)
NOTIFICATIONS
New Delhi, the 26th January 1976
No. A-21021/11/75-Ad. IIIB.—The President is pleased, on the occasion of Republic Day 1976, to award Appreciation Certificates to the undermentioned officers of the Cen- tral excise Department for exceptionally meritorious service rendered by them when undertaking a task even at the risk of their lives.
(1) Shri Reihinam Krinhnamurthy, Superintendent, Collectorate of Central Excise,
Madurai.
On receipt of information passed by the Assistant Collector, Customs Division, Naga- pattinam, to the effect that a launch from Dubai was likely to land contraband on the night of 2nd June, 1974, or on, subsequent nights, Shri Krishnamutrthy, Inspector, Sea- Base, Cuddalore, got the departmental launch ready for a sea operation and also gathered the crew of the launch with the utmost secrecy and pushed out to sea during high tide at about 20.30 hours on 2nd June, 1974. He was the leader of the party being the only Inspector amongst the staff deployed on the risky venture, He was responsible for directing the entire operation and answerable for the safety of the entire crew of 11, working under his command. The intelligence available to Shri Krishnamurthy indicated the possibility of the launch carrying fire arms and the risk to life in tackling the launch which was more than twice the size of the departmental launch. The Inspector showed exceptional courage in chasing the Dubai vessel and finally intercepting it. While the Dubai vessel was very close to the departmental launch and while both the launches were running at high speed Shri Krishnamurthy set an example by jumping himself into the
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94 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART I—SEC. 1]foreign launch at the risk of his life and also ordered the members of his party to follow him. The Inspector also exhibited tenacity of purpose, presence of mind and admirable devotion to duty in effecting the seizure of the launch with goods of very high value and apprehending every person present in it, despite the damage caused to the departmental launch during the operation. Shri Krishnamurthy showed the exceptional courage at the risk i of his life.
(2) Shrt Ram Ambumal Bhambhanl, Inspector (Ordinary Grade) Callectorale of
Central Excise, Ahmedabad.
In pursuance of an intelligence report regarding large scale landing of contraband goods by Arab Dhows on West coast, Shri Bhambhani, Inspector, alongwith another Inspector, two Sepoys and 9 crew members left for sea patrol at 15,00 hours on 8th February, 1974 on Government launch for patrolling opposite the Gujarat coast, They sailed deep into the sea off Umargaon and Dahanu and sighted one mechanised vessel, moving in suspicious manner at 16.30 hours on 7th February, 1974, The vessel appeared to be an Arab-dhow from its build and construction and appeared to be fully loaded from its movement in tho sea. The suspected vessel, sensing that Customs launch was following it, started speeding away toward the deep sea. The officers thereupon gave a hot chase to the suspected craft for. over an hour under adverse circumstances when the sea was very choppy as there was a heavy breeze and the visibility was very poor. As soon as they were within a distance of about 200 yards from the suspected craft, the Customs launch was faced with a continued burst of fire. Shri Bhambhani showed commendable courage by cleverly remaining beyond the effective range of firing from the Arab Dhow and continued the chase. Finally in face of heavy firing, the suspected craft was cornered and intercepted at about 18.30 hours. The alien craft was escorted to Umargaon Customs House in the small hours of 8-2-74. and the search thereof resulted in the seizure of 126 package^ of fabrics of foreign origin valued al Rs. 15.53.087 'and the vessel is valued at Rs. 2,20,000.
In effecting this seizure, Shri R. A. Bhambhanii exhibited extraordinary presence of mind, leadership, exemplary courage and bravery regardless of personal danger to his life.
2. These awards are made under Clause (a) (i) of Para 1 of the Scheme governing the grant of awards to the officers and staff of the Customs and Central Excise Departments, published in Part I, Section 1 of the Gazette of India Extraordinary Notification No. 12/139/59-Ad. IITB dated the 5th November, 1962, as amended from time to time.
[PART I—SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDTA EXTRAORDINARY 95 s>6 T HE G A Z E T TE OF I N D IA E X T R A O R D I N A RY [PART I —S E C. 1]^ N
1. Shri Sundarapandiam Rama Iyengar Satagopan, Superintendent, Collectorate oi
Central Excise, Madurai.
2. Slwi Rustomji Jalejar Parakh, Superintendent, Bombay Custom House.
3. Shri Sant Prasad Srivaslava, Preventive Inspector, Central Bureau of Narcotics, Gwalior.
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4. Shri Narayan Bhaurao Gadekar, Intelligence Officer, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, New Delhi.
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i>. These awards are made under Clause (a) (ii) of Para 1 Of the Scheme governing [fymt of awards to the officers and staff of the Customs, Central Excise and Narcotics a s, published in Part T, Section 1 of the Gazette of India Extraordinary ^ . i f. " No. 12/139/59-Ad. 11IB dated the 5th November, 1962 and No. 3 1 / 1 2 / 6 7- Ad. IIIB, dated 15th January, 1968 as amended from time to time.
M. A. RANGASWAMY, Addl. Secy.
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