Punjab Ribbon

Awarded to security forces (though not - apparently - to armed forces?) for service in "Operation Bluestar" in the Punjab. As this operation has been extraordinarily politically sensitive no medal has been issued, it seems likely that none will ever be issued, and the services represented by this ribbon have been folded into the "Rakshak" bar to the Special Service Medal. To date, this has been encountered only as a ribbon bar.

Established:

Ribbon: The 31-mm ribbon - which, in any case, is difficult to visualize as a suspension ribbon - is black with a single broad (4 mm) diagonal white stripe (running from upper left to lower right). The ribbon is made from what seems to be elasticized paper.