Ashok Chakra for slain Greyhounds inspector KLVSSNV Prasad Babu

Greyhounds inspector KLVSSNV Prasad Babu was awarded the highest peace time gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra, posthumously on Wednesday. It is the first time in Andhra Pradesh police and Greyhounds history that an officer was chosen for this award. His father has recieved the award from President Pranab today.

Prasad Babu, 33, who was a native of Marturu village in Visakhapatnam district, was killed by Maoists in the forests of Chhattisgarh in April, 2013. Prasad had joined the police department as a sub-inspector in 2004 and was subsequently promoted as an inspector. His father Karanam Venkataramaiah is a retired constable.

Prasad had played a crucial role in gunning down 10 Maoists in the encounter in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh in April 2013. However, while returning to the state along with his team, the Maoists opened fire on an IAF chopper which arrived in Kancharla forests to pick up the Greyhounds personnel. In his last hours, he fought alone with a whole unit of Maoists to save the lives of four commandos. In the melee, Prasad Babu got lost in the forest and the chopper had to take off without him. According to Greyhounds sources, Prasad Babu fought with the Maoists bravely for several hours till his ammunition got exhausted. He was then captured and killed by the left-wing extremists.

Prasad Babu is survived by his parents and wife, who stay in Marturu village.