Tripura Police officer Babulal Debnath receives Rah-Veer Samman Smarak 2026 for saving an accident victim. Honoured by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at Mumbai’s Film City, his timely intervention highlights road safety heroism and humanitarian policing.
When Babulal Debnath of the Tripura Police Service left home to drop his daughter at the Agartala airport in July last year, he had no idea that a routine family responsibility would turn into a moment of national recognition. A chance encounter on the road that day would later earn him one of India’s most prestigious honours for road safety heroism.
On January 23, 2026, Debnath was conferred the Rah-Veer Samman Smarak-2026 at a grand ceremony held at Film City in Mumbai. The award was presented by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, during The Grand Telethon of Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan 2026, organised by Network-18. The event celebrated citizens who displayed extraordinary courage and presence of mind to save lives on Indian roads.
Debnath was named among the top five Rah-Veers of the country, a distinction that brought immense pride to the Tripura Police and the state as a whole. The ceremony was attended by prominent personalities from the film industry, including Amitabh Bachchan, Vicky Kaushal, and Alia Bhatt, adding national visibility to the officer’s selfless act.
The recognition traces back to July 1, 2025, when Debnath was returning from the airport. While driving through Durjoynagar, he noticed an elderly woman lying critically injured on the roadside. With no immediate assistance available and precious minutes ticking away, Debnath stopped his vehicle without hesitation. He alerted local residents, ensured basic first aid, and personally arranged for the woman to be rushed to the AGMC & GBP Hospital Trauma Centre in Agartala.
Medical professionals later confirmed that the woman’s survival depended on the speed of the rescue. Doctors stated that Debnath’s prompt action prevented fatal complications and saved her life.
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Within the Tripura Police fraternity, the honour is being seen as far more than an individual achievement. Senior officers and colleagues have described Debnath’s intervention as a powerful reminder that policing is not limited to law enforcement alone, but is deeply rooted in service to humanity.
The Rah-Veer Samman Smarak aims to encourage citizens to act responsibly and courageously during road accidents. Debnath’s story stands as a compelling example of how awareness, empathy, and decisive action can transform ordinary moments into acts of extraordinary heroism.
