Slain DSP Bhat among gallantry medal recipients from J&K

More than two dozen Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel have been recognised for their exemplary service on the eve of Republic Day, with awards ranging from gallantry medals to distinguished and meritorious service honours.

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Among the awardees are seven officers credited with preventing a potential terror attack on the Amarnath Yatra, and late Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Humayun Bhat, who displayed exceptional courage in the line of duty.

According to the list of awards, 15 J&K Police officers have been conferred with the Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG). Additionally, Anand Jain and Nitish Kumar, both holding the rank of Additional Directors General of Police (ADGP), have received the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), while 10 police personnel were awarded the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM).

Late DSP Humayun Bhat, who lost his life during an encounter with terrorists in Kokernag on September 13, 2023, was posthumously awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry. Bhat was recognised for his bravery during a 2021 gunfight on the outskirts of Srinagar, where two terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, including an A++ category Pakistani terrorist, were neutralised.

Bhat, who is survived by his wife Fatimah and their infant son, had earlier been honoured with the Kirti Chakra on Independence Day 2024 for extraordinary valour.

The awards also recognised the efforts of a team of police personnel who thwarted a possible attack on the Amarnath Yatra in 2022. On June 14 that year, two Pakistani LeT terrorists and a local terrorist, Adil Hussain Mir, were killed in an encounter in Srinagar’s Bemina area. Police investigations revealed that the terrorists, under the direction of Pakistan-based handlers, intended to attack the Yatra.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha congratulated the awardees, stating, “Congratulations to @JmuKmrPolice 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.”

Sinha also paid tribute to Fireman Satish Kumar Raina, who was posthumously awarded the Medal for Gallantry for sacrificing his life while performing his duties during a fire incident in Prem Nagar, Jammu.