The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Christy receives gallantry award for keeping rabid canine at bay

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 27, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Christy receives gallantry award for keeping rabid canine at bay

S. Dorairaj

PROUD MOMENT: Christy Joseph with his Anna gallantry medal given by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa during Republic Day celebrations in Chennai on Thursday. — Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: Christy Joseph, a nine-year old schoolboy from the Nilgiris district, who received Anna Medal for Gallantry-2006 from Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at the 57th Republic Day celebrations here, was the cynosure of all eyes.

Christy was chosen for the award, which carried a certificate and medal, for saving his little sister M.T.Litna and his friends from a "mad dog."

A beaming Christy said he was happy that the Chief Minister gave him a pat and told him, "Very good."

Caught by surprise

Recalling the spine-chilling incident, he said: "It took place around 4 p.m. on March 14 last year, when I was returning home from school along with my sister and friends. Suddenly we were attacked by a rabid dog, which pounced upon Litna."

Even as the attack caught others by surprise, Christy, unmindful of the consequences, caught hold of the canine. "Don't lose a moment, run away," he exhorted his sister and friends. He did not loosen the grip on the stray dog's neck for about 10 minutes. This enabled his sibling and friends to reach a safe distance where people from the neighbourhood rescued them.

In the process, Christy suffered seven wounds on his left hand due to dog bite. His father M.T. Joseph said Christy had to be administered six doses of vaccine at Coonoor Government Hospital.

Ms. Jayalalithaa also handed over the award to three others.

Other awards

Ka.Ilango, Agricultural Officer, Cuddalore, won the accolade for swimming 200 metres across the Coleroon, ignoring the threat posed by crocodiles which frequent the area, to ensure evacuation of the residents of three hamlets near Veerankoil Thittu shortly before the area was inundated on November 25.

Vimalatha alias Jayanthi of Chinna Bargur in Krishnagiri district prevented a major dacoity by the dreaded 12-member Baveria gang on the midnight of January 9, 2005.

Nine-year old R.Venkatesan of Maravanatham in Perambalur district, who drowned in the Kallar while rescuing two boys, was given the award posthumously.

A.Abdul Jabbar of Coimbatore received the `Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony Award' for his efforts to enhance education and employment opportunities for the Muslim youth, besides bringing activities of fundamentalists to the notice of the police.

He ensured that the national flag was hoisted at mosques on Independence Day and Republic Day.

N.Kandhakumar of Manavadi village in Karur district was posthumously honoured with the `Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak' for bravery. He displayed extraordinary courage and sense of duty in saving his schoolmates from a speeding train when their van got stuck at an unmanned level crossing.

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