JAMMU: In a moment of pride for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, 52 personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been conferred with 33 President’s Gallantry Medal (GM), 2 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), and 17 President’s Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) on the eve of the 77th Republic Day.
Among the awardees from the Jammu and Kashmir Police are three Inspector General of Police (IGP)-rank Officers-Mohammad Suleman Choudhary, Sujit Kumar, and Vivek Gupta, two Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)-ranked officers- Dr Mohammad Haseeb Mughal and Nisha Nathyal, and as many Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) Tanushree and Shabir Nawab, among other officers and personnel.
Sujit Kumar, IPS (2007 batch), has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his distinguished and meritorious service to the nation.
Sujit Kumar is presently serving as Inspector General of Police, Security, Jammu & Kashmir, and is also holding the additional charge of IGP Crime, Jammu & Kashmir.
The award acknowledges his exemplary leadership, professional competence, and sustained contributions to strengthening policing and security mechanisms in the Union Territory.
The Meritorious Service Medal, announced as part of the Republic Day honours list, is conferred on police officers for exceptional service marked by devotion to duty and outstanding performance.
Meanwhile, IPS Suleman Choudhary is currently serving the region as IGP Traffic J&K, with additional charge of IGP Technical Services, and Vivek Gupta as IGP Railways J&K.
Two Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)-ranked officers- Dr Mohammad Haseeb Mughal and Nisha Nathyal, and as many Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) Tanushree and Shabir Nawab, among other officers and personnel.
those Jammu and Kashmir Police officers who have been honoured with the President’s Gallantry Medal (GM) include Additional SP Mohan Lal Sharma, (Third Bar to GM); DySPs Javaid Ahmad Lone (GM and First Bar to GM) and Mohammad Ashrif (First Bar to GM); and Inspectors Younis Khan (GM and First Bar to GM) and Mohammad Rafiq (GM).
Other GM awardees are ASIs Davinder Kumar (First Bar to GM) and Ajit Dhar (GM); Head Constables Shabeer Ahmad Narwaroo (GM), Sammeet Pal Singh (GM), Mohammad Shafi Magray (GM), Ravi Kumar (GM), Malik Bashir-u-Din (GM), and Sunil Raina (GM); and Selection Grade Constables Rakesh Kumar (GM), Rattan Lal (GM), Reyaz Ahmad (GM), Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan (GM), Umar Nazir (GM), Abid Ali Dar (GM), and Abdul Rouf Wani (First Bar to GM).
The Jammu and Kashmir Police constables receiving the honour are Mohamad Saleem Dar (First Bar to GM), Vicky Khajuria (GM), Safeer Lone (Third Bar to GM), Ab Rashid Lone (GM), Reyaz Ahmad Sheikh (GM), Mohammad Ramzan Rather (GM), Sohail Ahmad Dar (GM), Manzoor Ahmad Bhat (GM), and Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir.
The two recipients of the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) are DIGs Dr Mohammad Haseeb Mughal and Nisha Nathyal.
Similarly, apart from IGPs Mohammd Suleman Choudhary, Sujit Kumar, and Vivek Gupta, the police officers and personnel from Jammu and Kashmir who received the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) include DySPs Himat Singh, Champa Devi, Khushwant Singh, and Gurmeet Singh.
Inspector-rank MSM awardees are Anil Sharma, Reyaz Ahmad Langoo, Sardar Singh, Neeraj Kumar Koul, and Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat. ASIs Sham Lal and Balwinder Singh have also been awarded the MSM, while Head Constable Gopal Singh received the honour.
Two constables-Tawheed Ahmad Thoker and Shubh Kumar-have also been awarded the MSM.
The two J&K Correctional Service personnel awarded the Medal for Meritorious Service are Zaker Iqbal, Selection Grade Warder, Jammu and Kashmir, and Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, Warder, Jammu and Kashmir.
Pertinently, A total of 982 police, fire, home guard, civil defence and correctional services personnel have been awarded gallantry and various service medals on the eve of the 77th Republic Day.
The decorations included 125 gallantry medals (GM), the Union Home Ministry said in a statement.
The maximum number of bravery medals, at 45, have been given to personnel deployed in the Jammu and Kashmir operations theatre, followed by 35 from Naxal violence-affected areas, and five who are posted in the northeast region.
Four fire service rescuers are among the gallantry medal winners, it said.
A breakup provided in the official statement said that Jammu and Kashmir Police has been decorated with the highest number of gallantry medals at 33, followed by Maharashtra Police at 31, 18 for the Uttar Pradesh Police and 14 for the Delhi Police.
Among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), the CRPF is the only force to get bravery citations with 12 medals. The list also includes 101 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) and 756 Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) to the officers and personnel.
In another statement, the ministry said that 30 persons have been awarded the Jeevan Raksha Padak series of awards for 2025. This includes Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak and Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak to six persons each and Jeevan Raksha Padak to 18 persons.
Out of these, six awardees have been decrated posthumously.
