R-DAY 2025: J&K Police honoured with 27 awards, 15 Gallantry Medals among recognitions

Srinagar, Jan 25: The Jammu and Kashmir Police have been honoured with 27 prestigious awards this Republic Day, including 15 Gallantry Medals, making it the second-highest recipient of such medals in the country after Uttar Pradesh.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police will receive 15 Gallantry Medals, two President’s Medals for Distinguished Service, and 10 Medals for Meritorious Service.
The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service will be awarded to Anand Jain, Additional Director General of Police, and Nitish Kumar, Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department in J&K. Both officers have been recognised for their leadership and contributions to public safety.
Former ADGP Law and Order J&K, Vijay Kumar, and former SSP Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal, will also receive Gallantry Medals for their role in maintaining peace and security in the J&K.
DSP Azhar Rashid, Head Constable Maajid Afzal Wani, Constables Safeer Lone and Shahnawaz Ahmad Deedad (both receiving their first Bar to the Gallantry Medal), and Assistant Sub-Inspector Suresh Kumar Bhat are among the recipients of Gallantry Medals for their courage and dedication. SgCT Aqib Qayoom Yatoo and SgCT Manzoor Ahmad Bajard are also being honoured for their exemplary bravery.
Among the recipients is Deputy Superintendent of Police Humayun Muzzammil Bhat, who will be posthumously awarded the Gallantry Medal for his exceptional courage and ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Humayun, a 2018 batch officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Police Service, lost his life at the age of 34 during an encounter with terrorists in Kokernag on September 13, 2023. He was the youngest officer among the three security personnel martyred in the incident.
Bhat received the gallantry medal for displaying “rare courage” during an encounter on June 29, 2021 in which a top local commander of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, identified as Abrar, as well as a Pakistani terrorist were neutralized on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Humayun was earlier honoured with the Kirti Chakra, the nation’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, announced on the eve of last year’s Independence Day.
Selection-grade fireman Satish Kumar Raina was also posthumously conferred with the Medal for Gallantry for sacrificing his life while performing 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.
In a congratulatory message on “X”, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha lauded the recipients of the awards.
“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.”
He also paid tribute to selection-grade fireman Satish Kumar Raina for sacrificing his life while performing his duties during a fire incident.