Srinagar: Twenty officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been honoured with the “Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak” by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for their outstanding contribution to Operation Mahadev, which eliminated the militants responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Among the awardees are IG Kashmir Vidhi Kumar Birdi, DIG Central Kashmir Pande Rajiv Omprakash, and SSP Srinagar G.V. Sundeep Chakraborty, along with several senior and field officers who played pivotal roles in the counter-terror operation.
Operation Mahadev led to the neutralisation of three Pakistani militants — including Suleiman alias Asif, the main planner of the Pahalgam attack, and his associates Jibran and Hamza Afghani. Notably, Jibran was also linked to the Sonamarg Tunnel attack in October 2024.
During the operation, security forces recovered an M4 carbine, two AK rifles, and a significant cache of ammunition.
Other recipients of the prestigious medal include SP Tanweer Ahmed Dar, SP Zoheb Tanveer, and DSPs Vikram Nag, Mubashir Naiz, and Shakir Hassan, in addition to several Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, and constables who took part in the high-risk mission.
