J&K Police honoured with 50 Gallantry, Meritorious Service Medals

Srinagar, Aug 14: bThe Jammu and Kashmir Police bagged 50 medals for gallantry and meritorious services on the eve of the 78th Independence Day recognising their exceptional bravery, distinguished service, and devotion to duty.

According to the list of awardees announced by the Union Home Ministry today, a total of 50 personnel from the J&K Police figure in the list of awardees. Two Police officers have been chosen for the President’s Medal for Distinguished Services. Imtiyaz Hussain Mir (SSP) and Joginder Singh (SSP) have been awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Services.

Those who have been awarded with Jammu Kashmir Police Medal for Meritorious Service are IGP Bhim Sen Tuti, SSP Zahid Naseem Manhas, SSP Ranjit Singh Sambyal, ASP Paramjeet Singh, DySP Kuldeep Handoo, DySP Naresh Kumar, Inspector Kamal Sangra, Inspector Bilal Ahmad Badar, Inspector (S) Syed Israr Ahmad, Sub-Inspector (M) Surinder Pandit, Sub-Inspector Shabir Ahmad Sheikh, Sub-Inspector Rajpaul Singh, ASI Muhammad Sarwar, ASI Deepak Bhat, ASI(T) Kulbushan Khajuria, HC Sarfa Ram, and HC Ram Paul.

A total of 31 J&K Police personnel will be awarded medals for gallantry and 17 medals for meritorious services.

On the eve of India's Independence Day, the Union Home Ministry announced service medals for 1037 Police personnel from various central and state forces, recognising their exceptional bravery, distinguished service, and devotion to duty.

Among these, the J&K Police stood out, receiving a significant number of gallantry medals, further cementing their reputation as one of the most courageous and resilient Police forces in the country.

In the backdrop of ongoing security challenges in J&K, the J&K Police has been at the forefront of combating terrorism and maintaining law and order.

Of the 214 personnel awarded with bravery medals, 31 are from the J&K Police.

These officers have displayed extraordinary courage and commitment while tackling terrorism and ensuring the safety of civilians in J&K.

The gallantry awards include a President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG) and 231 Medals for Gallantry (GM), with the J&K Police securing a significant share of these prestigious honours.

The recognition of J&K Police personnel is a testament to the force’s relentless efforts in neutralising terrorist threats, conducting counter-insurgency operations, and safeguarding the sovereignty of the nation.

The highest Police decoration, the lone PMG medal, was awarded to Telangana Police Head Constable Chaduvu Yadaiah for his exceptional bravery in apprehending two notorious criminals.

However, the J&K Police’s receipt of 31 GM medals highlights the force’s continuous and dangerous engagement with terrorism.

These medals are a reflection of the daily risks J&K Police officers face while conducting operations in Kashmir, a region where the threat of violence is a constant reality.

The CRPF, which often operates alongside the J&K Police in joint anti-terrorism operations, received the maximum number of bravery medals, with 52 awards.

This collaboration between the J&K Police and CRPF has been crucial in maintaining peace and security in J&K.

The distribution of medals also included recognition for other state police forces, with Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra each receiving 17 medals, Chhattisgarh 15, and Madhya Pradesh 12.

Despite these numbers, the focus remains on the J&K Police due to the unique and challenging environment in which they operate.

In addition to the bravery awards, the government announced 94 President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service and 729 Medals for Meritorious Service.

These awards recognise the ongoing dedication and professionalism of Police personnel across India.

The J&K Police, in particular, has demonstrated a special distinguished record in Police service, earning them these accolades.

The force’s success in counter-terrorism efforts, particularly in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370, has been pivotal in stabilising the region.

The medals serve not only as recognition but as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the men and women of the J&K Police in their mission to protect the citizens of J&K.

A total of 133 officials received JKP Medal for Gallantry and JKP Medal for Meritorious Service.