2 ADGPs, fmr IGP Kmr, late DySP Himayun Bhat among awardees
Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, Jan 25: A total of 32 officers and officials, including 27 police personnel from Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), will be awarded the President’s Medals by President Droupadi Murmu on occasion of Republic Day this year. Two police personnel from the UT of Ladakh will also be awarded the prestigious medals.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
As per details available on the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India’s website, J&K Police will receive 17 President’s Medals for Gallantry (GM)-second highest among the State Police forces and fourth highest among all the forces-two President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and 10 President’s Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).
An Assistant Director (Executive) level officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs, who is a resident of and posted in Jammu District, shall also be awarded the PSM by the President Droupadi Murmu.
While a Selection Grade Fireman of the region from the Fire Service will receive the GM posthumously, a Divisional Warden from the Home Guards and Civil Defence, and a Section Officer and a Warder from the Correctional Service, will be awarded the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).
Among the GM awardee police officers and officials are former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar (GM), former SSP Srinagar Rakesh Balwal (GM), SP Iftkhar Talib (Ist Bar to GM), martyr DySP Himayun Muzammil Bhat (GM Posthumously), DySP Azhar Rashid (GM), ASIs Suresh Kumar Bhat (GM), Faroz Ahmad Dar (Ist Bar to GM), Head Constables Maajid Afzal Wani (GM), Sudish Singh (GM), Pawan Kumar (GM), Selection grade Constables (SgCTs) Aqib Qayoom Yatoo (GM), Manzoor Ahmad Bajard (GM), Irshad Ahmad Lohar (GM), and Constables Safeer Lone (Ist Bar to GM), and Shahnawaz Ahmad Deedad (Ist Bar to GM).
Medals for Gallantry (GM) are awarded on the “ground of rare conspicuous act of gallantry and conspicuous act of gallantry respectively in saving life and property, or in preventing crime or arresting criminals
Former IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, who is currently an ADGP ranked officer, and posted in AGMUT cadre’s Delhi segment, will be awarded the GM for playing a crucial role in foiling a terror attack on the Amarnath Yatra three years ago.
During his tenure as IGP Kashmir, Kumar generated an input that a group of terrorists were planning to carry out an attack on the annual Amarnath yatra in June 2022.
On June 14, a small police party headed by Rakesh Balwal, the then SSP Srinagar, who is currently posted in Manipur, under the supervision of then IGP Vijay Kumar, stopped a vehicle at Bemina on the outskirts of the city, leading to an encounter.
Two hardcore terrorists, including a Pakistani, were eliminated during the operation that was conducted by the J&K Police without the assistance of the Army, The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Intelligence agencies.
Martyr DySP Himayun Muzzammil Bhat, who sacrificed his life during a 2023 encounter with terrorists in south Kashmir, will be posthumously awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry for his courageous actions during a 2021 gunfight. During the encounter, Bhat played a key role in neutralising a top local commander of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), identified as Abrar, as well as a Pakistani terrorist on the outskirts of Srinagar.
The brave officer was earlier awarded the Kirti Chakra, the nation’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, announced on the eve of last year’s Independence Day. 32-year-old Bhat is survived by his wife Fatimah and their infant son Ashar.
Late Selection Grade Fireman Satish Kumar Raina, was also posthumously conferred with the Medal for Gallantry for sacrificing his life while discharging his duties during a fire incident in Jammu’s Prem Nagar area.
Raina, posted at the Shaheedi Chowk fire station in Jammu city, lost his life during a fire fighting operation in January 2023.
As per the Home Ministry, two ADGP ranked officers of JKP-Anand Jain and Nitish Kumar-and an Assistant Director (Executive) level officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ravi Dev Uttama, will receive the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM).
While Anand Jain is posted as ADGP Jammu Zone, Nitish Kumar is currently posted as the Head of the CID (ADGP CID), Jammu and Kashmir. Ravi Dev Uttama, who is currently posted in Jammu had earlier been conferred with Home Minister Dakshata Medal.
The police personnel who were awarded the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) are SSP, Cyber Crime Investigation Centre for Excellence (CICE), Jammu and Kashmir, DySP Sanjeev Singh Salathia, DySP Pardeep Gupta, Inspectors Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, Som Raj, Rohini Dhar, Mohammad Iqbal Mir, ASI Rajpal Singh, Head Constable Ghulam Hassan Beigh, and Naik Kuldeep Singh.
In the category of Home Guards and Civil Defence, Divisional Warden Riyaz Ahmad Mir is the only officers from the UT to receive the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).
As far as the category of Correctional Services is concerned, a Section Officer Vijay Kumar and Warder Nazir Ahmad Sheikh will recieve the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).
Two police personnel from Ladakh Police will also receive the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM). They are Inspector Mohammad Yousuf and ASI Mohammad Shafi.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has congratulated the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Correctional Service, and Home Guard & Civil Defence personnel for being conferred with the President Medals.
“Congratulations to Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel and officers who have been conferred with the Medal for Gallantry, President’s Medal for Distinguished Service & Medal for Meritorious Service on the occasion of Republic Day 2025,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
He further wrote, “I congratulate the personnel of Correctional Service and Home Guard & Civil Defence who have been bestowed with the Medal for Meritorious Service on Republic Day 2025.”
The LG also paid tribute to Fireman Satish Kumar Raina, who lost his life while performing his duties during a fire incident in Prem Nagar, Jammu.
“My tribute to Satish Kumar Raina, SG Fireman, conferred with the Medal for Gallantry (Posthumously) for sacrificing his life while performing duties during a fire incident in Prem Nagar, Jammu.”
Follow our WhatsApp channel
