Nineteen Jammu and Kashmir Police officers and personnel have been bestowed with the Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak, a testament to their exceptional courage and skill demonstrated in ‘Operation Mahadev’. This honor specifically acknowledges their pivotal role in avenging the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam.
Leading the honorees is IGP Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi. The list also includes DIG Pande Rajiv Omprakash, SSP Srinagar G V Sundeep Chakraborty, SPs Tanweer Ahmed Dar and Zoheb Tanveer, and DSPs Vikram Nag, Shakir Hassan, Mubashir Naiz, and Taseer Hamid. The award signifies the exemplary coordination, professionalism, and bravery exhibited by the entire team, from top brass to ground operatives.
The Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak is presented for outstanding contributions and the promotion of high professional benchmarks in critical areas such as special operations, meticulous investigations, intelligence analysis, and forensic expertise. The awards were announced on October 31, 2025, a date commemorating Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth.
‘Operation Mahadev’ was a critical counter-terrorism mission launched in the forests near Dachigam National Park, Srinagar, approximately three months after the devastating Pahalgam incident. The operation culminated in the elimination of three foreign terrorists, notably Suleiman alias Asif, who was a mastermind behind the April 22 attack that claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians. This successful operation reinforces the J&K Police’s resolve to combat terrorism and maintain regional stability.