Rain of gallantry medals for forces involved in Kashmir operations

Kashmir News Bureau
For conducting anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir, the state police and the CRPF have bagged majority of gallantry medals announced today, ahead of Republic Day.
Out of the 107 total gallantry medals announced on the eve of Republic Day 2018, seven have been given posthumously, while as personnel involved in Kashmir operations police and CRPF bagged 38 and 27 medals each respectively.
Over 200 militants have been killed in these operations during the last year alone in the Valley — the highest in the last seven years. Security forces, that includes the J-K Police and its Special Operations Group (SOG), the CRPF and the Army have been undertaking anti-militancy operations in the Kashmir Valley as part of concerted efforts against militant activities, especially after the killing of Burhan Wani in July, 2016.



“The home ministry has made it a point to ensure that the lower ranks of the police forces get due recognition. The least medals went to the higher ranks this year. It is bottom heavy this time,” a senior official said.
In a departure from tradition, the maximum number of such medals were awarded to the lowest ranks of policemen — Constables and Havildars — at 382, followed by 183 to the Assistant Sub-Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors and Inspector ranks, 116 to Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) and Assistant Commandant ranks and only 10 of these went to the senior ranks of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and IG. (KNB)