Akhnoor Police Station Crowned J&K’s Best; Public Bond Our Real Strength, Says DGP Prabhat

Police Chief Presents MHA Excellence Award; Lauds SSP Joginder Singh, Shaurya Chakra Awardee SP Mohan Sharma for Building Trust, Eradicating Terror

• In a landmark recognition, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has adjudged Police Station Akhnoor as the Best Police Station in Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2024, with Director General of Police (DGP) J&K, Sh. Nalin Prabhat, IPS, personally visiting the station to present the Certificate of Excellence.
• DGP Prabhat articulated a foundational principle of J&K Police’s counter-terrorism strategy, stating that a strong police-public bond is the most essential weapon, citing the recent elimination of a top Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander in Dudu-Basantgarh, which was made possible by information provided by the local populace.
• The prestigious award was attributed to the exceptional 2024 leadership of then-SHO Tariq Ahmed and notably, the then-SDPO Mohan Sharma, (Now SP Poonch) a highly decorated officer and Shaurya Chakra recipient, all operating under the comprehensive command of SSP Jammu, Sh. Joginder Singh, JKPS and SP Brijesh Sharma.

MOHIT MEHRA

Jammu, July 16, 2025: In a moment of immense pride and a powerful validation of its community-centric policing model, Police Station Akhnoor was officially crowned the Best Police Station of Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2024 by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India. To mark this singular achievement, Director General of Police (DGP) J&K, Sh. Nalin Prabhat, IPS, personally visited the historic police station on Wednesday, presenting the Certificate of Excellence and articulating a foundational principle of modern policing: that a robust bond between the police and the public is the most essential weapon in the fight against terrorism.

The high-profile event was attended by a galaxy of top officials, including IGP Jammu Zone, Sh. B.S. Tuti, IPS; IGP CRPF Jammu, Sh. Gopala K. Rao, IPS; DIG JSK Range, Sh. Shiv Kumar Sharma, IPS; DC Jammu, Sh. Sachin Vaishya, IAS; and SSP Jammu, Sh. Joginder Singh, JKPS, signifying the importance of this recognition. Hon’ble MLA Akhnoor, Sh. Mohan Lal Bhagat, also graced the occasion, alongside senior officers from the Army, BSF, CRPF, and intelligence agencies.

Addressing the gathering, DGP Prabhat emphasized that this award was more than just a recognition of procedural excellence; it was a testament to the trust cultivated with the local community. He drew a direct and powerful parallel to a recent major operational success to illustrate his point. “A major success was achieved recently in the Dudu-Basantgarh Forest of Udhampur, where a top Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander, active for four years, was eliminated,” the DGP stated. He revealed a critical detail behind the operation: “Information about the presence of terrorists in the area was provided by the people. Police cannot be successful without public support. The bond between the public and police in Akhnoor has been instrumental in our success.”

This prestigious national-level recognition is part of a flagship initiative launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India during the 2015 DGP/IGP Conference in Kutch, Gujarat. The rigorous selection process, managed by the MHA’s Police Modernisation Division with support from the TransRural research agency, evaluated a staggering 17,932 police stations across the country. Police Station Akhnoor, located strategically near the Line of Control (LoC), secured its place among the elite 76 shortlisted stations, ultimately clinching the top spot for Jammu and Kashmir. Explaining his decision to present the award on-site, DGP Prabhat said, “It is a very happy day for Jammu Police. Instead of giving this award in a closed room, I decided to come here and personally hand it over. This recognition is the result of your relentless hard work and dedication.”

While presenting the award, the DGP specifically lauded the exceptional performance and leadership of the team that steered Police Station Akhnoor through 2024. He commended the efforts of the then-SHO, Inspector Tariq Ahmed, and SP Rural, Sh. Brijesh Sharma, JKPS. He gave special mention to the pivotal role played by the then-SDPO Akhnoor, Mohan Sharma, (Now SP Poonch) a highly decorated officer and a recipient of the prestigious Shaurya Chakra, whose experience and leadership were instrumental in achieving this feat. The DGP stressed that these achievements were realized under the exemplary overall command and guidance of SSP Jammu, Sh. Joginder Singh, JKPS. He also extended his best wishes to the present team, SHO Inspector Sanjeev Chib and SDPO Varinder Gupta, urging them to uphold this legacy of excellence.

IGP Jammu Zone, Sh. B.S. Tuti, also congratulated the team, urging them to maintain the same high level of professionalism and commitment to public service. The award recognizes Police Station Akhnoor’s remarkable performance not only in community policing but also in effectively tackling drug peddling, bovine smuggling, and gangster activity, solidifying its reputation as a model of disciplined, effective, and people-friendly law enforcement.