Deputy Superintendent R. P. Diengdoh, Ashoka Chakra

Before dawn in the Meghalaya jungle

The information came on 6 November 2007: about ten militants, with automatic rifles and a large quantity of explosives, had set up a camp in the jungles of Meghalaya. R. P. Diengdoh of the Meghalaya Police volunteered to lead the police party against them.

The party reached the site just before dawn the next day and charged into the camp. The militants fired heavily on the assault team. Diengdoh returned fire and shot one dead, then was hit by a bullet. Badly wounded, he stayed in command and managed to capture two militants. He did not survive his injuries.

Shillong, and the 2004 batch

Wikipedia gives his full name as Raymond P. Diengdoh and his birth as 10 October 1975 at Lum-Batgen, East Khasi Hills, Shillong, and says he was selected as a Deputy Superintendent in the 2004 batch. The Ashoka Chakra was announced on 15 August 2008. It was among 11 awards conferred at Rajpath on 26 January 2009. His wife, Sati Mosha Blah, received it from President Pratibha Patil.

Official text from the Press Information Bureau

On 6th November 2007, information was received that about ten militants, armed with automatic rifles and a huge quantity of explosives have set up a camp in the jungles of Meghalaya. Shri RP Diengdoh volunteered to lead the police party in the operations against the militants. The police party reached the site the next day just before dawn and charged into the camp to flush out the militants. The militants opened heavy fire on the assault team. Shri Diengdoh boldly returned the fire and shot dead one militant. However, he was hit by a bullet. Unmindful of the grave injury, he continued to lead the team and managed to capture two dreaded militants. Shri RP Diengdoh displayed exemplary dedication to duty and pre-eminent valour in making the supreme sacrifice while fighting the militants.

Source: Press Information Bureau release. Reproduced as printed, including any errors in the original.