New Delhi, Nov 25, : More than 1,500 Jammu-and-Kashmir policemen have died fighting Pakistan-sponsored militancy within the Himalayan region since 1990.Most of the cops who were killed were locals who fought valiantly against the ultras.
It is not easy to be a J&K policeman.Everybody who takes up a job as a policeman in the Union Territory, particularly in Kashmir, is aware the dangers that he might face.
The brave and courageous men and women from Kashmir have shown that they are strong and determined.Their willingness to join the police force is a clear sign of their determination to defeat the enemy, who has made every effort to make J&K a hell.
On November 22, President Ram Nath Kovind awarded Shaurya Chkra to three J&K officers.Posthumously, Sub-Inspector Imran Hussain Tak, late Ashiq Hussain Mak, and Special Police Officer (SPO), Subash Chander were awarded, while Subash Chander, the third J&K officer, was presented with the award by the President.
In 2017, Tak showed extraordinary bravery, heroic action, and indomitable spirit while fighting militants in Zakura in Srinagar’s outskirts.He killed a top militant commander, and captured another despite suffering bullet injuries.He gave his life for the country.Gulnaz Akhtar, his wife, was presented with the award by the President in New Delhi.
“President Kovind presented Shaurya Chkra to ShriImran Tak (Posthumous), Sub-Inspector, J&K Police.He showed heroic action, indomitable spirit and exceptional bravery in fighting with terrorists, and made supreme sacrifices for the nation,” the president’s office tweeted.
Special Police Officer (SPO), J&K Police Ashiq Hussain Malik showed the greatest courage during an anti-militancy operations in Anantnag in 2018.Before he was killed, he gave his life to four militants.
President Kovind presented the award to his parents Shahzado Bano and Maqbool Malik.
“President Kovind presents Shaurya Chkra to ShriAshiqhussain Malik (Posthumous), Special Policing Official, Jammu & Kashmir.
He showed exceptional and conspicuous bravery and raw courage in fighting with terrorists, and made supreme sacrifices for the nation,” read another tweet by the President’s Office.
Shaurya Chakra conferred the Presidential in person with Subash Chander, third policeman.
Chander was deployed to a joint checkpoint at Kralhar, north Kashmir’s Baramulla region, during Urban Local Bodies elections.
During the check, an SUV was stopped.
The passengers were asked to prove their identities.Chander was already in a defensive position when one of the men in the vehicle pulled out an AK-47 rifle.
The policeman was unable to engage the militant because there were eight others in his vehicle.Civilians tried to flee the scene, but the militants, including the first attacker, tried to take them hostage.
The President’s Office tweeted: “President Kovind presents Shaurya Chkra to Shri Subash Chauder, Head Constable, J&K Police.He saved the lives of four civilians while rescuing them from a very dangerous situation and also showed extreme courage when he eliminated two Pakistani terrorists.
Saga of sacrifices
Despite being threatened with death, intimidation, and other difficult circumstances, the policemen did not give up and continued to be an integral part in the fight against militancy at Jammu and Kashmir.
Many have died in the past 30 years, from special police officers and DIG-level officers.
A Deputy Inspector General was shot to death in Srinagar in 2004.Ayub Panit, Deputy Superintendent of the Police, was killed by a mob outside Jamia Masjid, Srinagar’s old capital.
He was on night duty during Ramadan.
Station House Officer Feroz Dar and five of his associates were killed in a militant ambush in Achabal town, south Kashmir’s Anantnag region, on June 20, 2017.
In August 2018, 45 year-old police sub-inspector Mohammad Ashraf Dar returned home to celebrate Eid.He was attacked by his daughter, one year old, and was shot in the kitchen.
In October 2018, Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir, a sub-inspector, was attacked by militants while he was traveling to his home in Pulwama.
Fayaz Ahmed, Raja Begum, and Rafia Akhtar were killed by ultras in Pulwama’s Hari Parigam village.
The militants broke into the victims’ homes and opened fire.Parvez Ahmad Dar, a police officer, was also shot to death by militants in Nowgam, on the outskirts of Srinagar.
The ultras attacked him as he was heading to the maghrib (evening) prayers.
Arshid Ahmad, a probationary subinspector, was shot to death by a militant at Khanyar, Srinagar’s old capital, in September.
In a nutshell J&K policemen are the soft targets of the militants.Whenever they have had the chance to hit them, they have.
These brave men have not lost their determination to end the militancy in J&K and have been successful with their mission.They have been at forefront of the fight against militancy.
Daring Acts
J&K policemen led the fight against the militants from the front.Security forces launched a counter offensive against ultras shortly after the suicide attack by the JeM militants at Pulwama on February 14, 2019.
This resulted in 40 paramilitary CRPF soldiers being killed.Amit Kumar, the South Kashmir range Deputy Inspector General of Police, suffered gunshot wounds to his abdomen during an encounter with JeM militants.
In March 2017, militants attacked a convoy of senior police officers from south Kashmir.The ultras, who were travelling in a car, approached the cavalcade in a narrow lane and began firing at Rayes Mohammad Bhat and Superintendent of Police Pulwama.
Two militants were killed on the spot by daring IPS officers.
Police officers were forced by militant organizations to resign and quit after the Pakistan-sponsored militancy broke down in J&K.
These brave men and women refused to give in to the pressure.They continued to do their jobs and inspired future generations to follow in their footsteps.They have displayed unmatched courage.They have shown their commitment to serving and protecting the people’s lives, from maintaining law and order to providing aid in disasters and fighting militantism.
They are available round the clock to ensure that the citizens live in a safe environment.
Many central armed forces commanders have repeatedly stated that fighting militancy within the Union Territory would have been impossible without J&K Police.
The strong intelligence network built by local policemen has stopped any attempt by the neighboring country to disrupt peace and development in the Himalayan area.Every threat has been neutralized by the J&K Policemen and other security forces.
The efforts and sacrifices of the security forces, which include local policemen, have made J&K’s Militancy virtually extinct.
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the Police Commemoration Day-2021.He said: “I salute families of the martyrs, and assure them that J & K Government will always be there for them.” My sincere respect to the police personnel who gave their lives fighting terrorism in J&K.
J&K Police origin
In 1873, the Jammu and Kashmir Police force was established with one officer known as Kotwal and fourteen thanedars for Srinagar.This police force would manage law and order and control crime.
In 1913, the state ordered the deputation of an Imperial Police (IP), officer and appointed Mr Broadway as the first Inspector-General of Police in June 1913.The Police in J&K have been through many reorganizations since then.
In 1889-90, there were 1,040 Police officers in J&K.This number rose to 1,570 in 1903, and then to 3,179 in 1943-44.It has now surpassed the 90,000 mark.
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