SRINAGAR: As Pakistan-sponsored terrorism continues to challenge security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, the men and women of the J&K Police remain on the frontlines—making the ultimate sacrifice to protect the Union Territory and the nation. In recognition of this unwavering service, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has, since 2019, made it a personal priority to visit the families of police martyrs during every trip to the region, sending a powerful message of respect, solidarity, and national gratitude.
On Monday evening, during his ongoing three-day visit to the Union Territory, Shah visited the Srinagar residence of Late Deputy Superintendent of Police Humayun Muzamil Bhat—who was killed in an encounter with terrorists in South Kashmir’s Kokernag on September 13, 2023. Bhat, just 32 at the time of his martyrdom, had earlier been awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry for his exceptional courage during a 2021 encounter in which he helped neutralise two top terrorists, including a Pakistani national. On the eve of last year’s Independence Day, he was also posthumously awarded the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award.
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Bhat is survived by his wife Fatimah and infant son Ashar. His father Ghulam Hassan Bhat is a retired IGP of Jammu and Kashmir Police.
This week’s visit adds to a list of outreach efforts by Union Home Minister Amit Shah since he became Home Minister. His pattern of visiting police martyrs’ families in Jammu and Kashmir began with his 2019 visit to the home of Inspector Arshad Ahmed Khan in Srinagar. Khan succumbed to injuries from a terror attack in Anantnag, and Shah personally met his wife, parents, and children, offering condolences and government support.
In 2021, Shah visited Nowgam to meet the family of Inspector Parvaiz Ahmad, killed by terrorists that June. He handed over a government job appointment letter to the martyr’s wife, Fatima Akhtar. In October 2022, he met with the families of 24 JKP personnel in Srinagar, personally distributing appointment letters to four families and reaffirming the Centre’s support. The next day, he travelled to Uri to pay tribute to SPO Mudasir Sheikh, who was killed in an encounter in Baramulla earlier that year.
These visits are more than symbolic—they have become a recurring expression of the government’s deep regard for Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel who have laid down their lives in the fight against terrorism. Officers in the force say such personal gestures by the Union Home Minister boost morale and validate their commitment. “When the Home Minister meets our families, it reminds us our sacrifices are not forgotten,” said a senior officer.
Despite repeated losses to targeted killings and ambushes, JKP continues to spearhead anti-terror operations with grit and determination. The force, widely acknowledged as one of the most battle-hardened police units in the country, has held firm under immense pressure, frequently confronting terrorists trained and armed across the border.
Shah’s consistent outreach—visiting gravesites, meeting parents and widows, and delivering both consolation and practical support—signals more than just protocol. It reinforces a national ethos of remembrance and honour for those who fall in service of peace. In a region where conflict has cast long shadows, these gestures help bring light, resilience, and renewed purpose to a force that stands as the first shield against terror.
