Srinagar, October 31, 2025 : In recognition of their exemplary courage and leadership during Operation Mahadev, twenty Jammu and Kashmir Police officers — including IG Kashmir Vidhi Kumar Birdi — have been awarded the Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The officers were part of a successful counter-terror operation that eliminated three Pakistani militants, including Suleiman alias Asif, the mastermind behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Another slain militant, Jibran, was also involved in the Sonamarg Tunnel attack in October 2024.
Security forces recovered one M4 carbine rifle, two AK rifles, and other arms and ammunition during the operation.
The awardees include: IG Kashmir Vidhi Kumar Birdi, DIG Central Kashmir Pande Rajiv Omprakash, SSP Srinagar G.V. Sundeep Chakraborty, SP Tanweer Ahmed Dar, SP Zoheb Tanveer, and several other officers and personnel for their “exceptional operational excellence and bravery.”
