New Delhi: Of the 15 Jammu and Kashmir police officers set to be awarded gallantry medals, seven played a pivotal role in averting a potential attack on the Amarnath Yatra three years ago. The list includes decorated officer Vijay Kumar, a former inspector general of police (IGP), Kashmir Zone.
The announcement came on the eve of Republic Day. A total of 942 personnel, including those from the police, fire, home guard and civil defence services are set to receive medals Sunday.
Among the posthumous awardees is Humayun Bhat, a deputy superintendent of police who was one of four officers killed in an encounter with terrorists in Kashmir’s Kokernag area in September 2023. The DSP rank officer was also awarded the Kriti Chakra on the eve of Independence Day last year.
On 14 June 2022, on the basis of inputs received by then IGP Vijay Kumar about the movement of terrorists, a small team of seven J&K police officers, led by Rakesh Balwal, the then senior superintendent of police (SSP), Srinagar, intercepted a vehicle.
A senior police officer told ThePrint, “Inside were a local individual and a Pakistani national. An encounter followed. Later it was revealed that they had plans to attack the Amarnath Yatra.”
The officer further said: “Their plan involved reaching a designated house, and they were armed with sophisticated weapons. The yatra was set to begin in a few days. One of the individuals killed was a hardcore LeT terrorist who had undergone para-commando training in Pakistan. We successfully averted the attack.”
It was a standalone operation by J&K police. Balwal has received several gallantry medals for past operations. He also received the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation for probing the 2019 Pulwama attack case.
Vijay Kumar has led the J&K Police in Kashmir Valley for the last five years. A 1997 batch IPS officer of AGMUT (erstwhile J&K) cadre, he was posted as inspector general of police, Kashmir, in December 2019, four months after the Centre abrogated J&K’s special status. During that sensitive time, Kumar led several operations in which militants and foreign terrorists were killed and militancy came down to an all-time low. Recruitment of local residents also dropped significantly. He has also led several operations against Naxals in Chhattisgarh.
Kumar has received six gallantry awards and a national award previously.
Apart from Balwal and ADGP Kumar, five other police personnel have been awarded the gallantry medal for their bravery in foiling the attack on the Amarnath Yatra.
Other J&K awardees
Anand Jain and Nitish Kumar, two J&K officers of additional director of police rank, are also set to be awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Services. Ten other J&K officers will receive medals for meritorious service.
Nitish Kumar, a senior IPS officer, has served various stints in J&K, as superintendent of police in Handwara, SSP in Pulwama and Anantnag, and DIG in south and north Kashmir. He has also served in the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
IPS Jain has served as inspector general of police, Jammu zone, director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau in J&K, SSP of Baramulla, Reasi and Rajouri among others.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)