Srinagar, Jan 25: Additional Director General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar (IPS) has been awarded President’s Police Medal for “distinguished services”.

The president’s police medal for distinguished services is the highest service medal for police and CAPFs.  It is awarded for long and distinguished service to individuals who have served at least 25 years in the State/Central police or in security organizations.

An IPS officer of 1997 batch, Kumar earlier served in different capacities on the various posts in Kashmir region. He has also served in CRPF on central deputation as DIGP New Delhi Range, IGP and IGP Chhattisgarh.

Recently, the Election Commission of India has awarded him the prestigious National Award for his role as chief force coordinator of CAPFs in providing safe environment for conducting assembly elections of nine states in 2018.

Kumar is also a recipient of several Gallantry Medals, Meritorious Service Medal, National Award by the ECI and Commendation Cards/Discs by the COAS, GoC-in-C (Northern Command), DG CRPF and DGP J&K.

Srinagar: Most parts of Kashmir and Bhaderwah received snowfall with Gulmarg receiving over 8 inches in the last 24 hours, officials said.

While it was snowing or raining in Jammu and Kashmir, the minimum temperature recorded an increase but stayed below the freezing point at most places of Valley, they said.

A meteorological department official said that in the 24 hours till 0830 hours, Srinagar received 1 cm of snow, Qazigund 11cm, Pahalgam 16.2cm, Kupwara zero, Kokernag 14.5cm, Gulmarg 21cm and Bhaderwah 7cm, while Kupwara had 12.7mm of rain, Jammu 3.3mm, Banihal 25.5cm, Batote 39.8mm, Katra 21.2mm, and Kathua 15.8mm.

He said intermittent light rain/snow was likely to continue at many places and reduce thereafter gradually by late afternoon.

Regarding temperature, the official said Srinagar recorded a low of 0.0°C against last night’s minus 2.3°C. Today’s minimum temperature, he said, is above normal by 2.3°C for the summer capital.

Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of minus 0.2°C against minus 0.2°C on the previous night and it was 3.7°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.

Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 2.6°C against minus 8.8°C on the previous night and it was 4.9°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.7°C against minus 3.5°C on the previous night and it was 2.9°C above normal for the place, the officials said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.6°C against minus 9.6°C on the previous night and it was 3.6°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.

In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at minus 0.6°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night and it was normal for the north Kashmir area.

Jammu recorded a low of 10.1°C against 8.5°C on the previous night. It was 3.1°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.

Banihal recorded a low of minus 0.3°C (above normal by 0.5°C), Batote 1.9°C (above normal by 1.9°C), Katra 8.2°C (2.2°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 0.0°C (1.3°C above normal).

Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 11.5°C and minus 9.5°C respectively, the official said.

Kashmir is under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21. It does not mean an end to the winter either. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.(GNS)

In Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police, Dilbagh Singh on Tuesday (January 24) stressed on keeping strict surveillance on cross-border narco trade, saying that elements from across the borders are using it for terror financing besides targeting the youth of the valley. AIR Jammu Correspondent reported that the police chief ordered strict action against elements found involved in anti-peace activities and narco-trade. He emphasized utilizing modern technology and human intelligence to monitor the suspect movements on borders and as also in the hinterland to prevent anti-peace incidents.

The DGP directed officials for intensifying the operations with all their might to track down the militants involved in the Dhangri attack and also directed stringent action against each individual who provided any support to militants in executing the cowardly attack. The DGP also directed for further strengthening the security grid by conducting Naka checking and joint patrolling besides ensuring area domination.

The DGP sought the progress of the investigation regarding the Dhangri incident and directed officials to explore all angles and expose the involvement of all the anti-national elements and militants in this heinous crime. The DGP also stressed on enhanced coordination among forces; Army, Police and CAPFs which has been the cause of success on the anti-militancy front. The DGP chaired a high level meeting of Army, Police, intelligence and CRPF officers to review the security scenario in the border district Rajouri.

JAMMU, Jan 25: One person was killed while two others were injured when shooting stones hit their vehicles on Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Wednesday. Official sources said that shooting stones hit two trucks in Ramsoo stretch of Jammu-Srinagar highway in Ramban district.“While one person lost his life in the incident, two others suffered injuries. The injured have been shifted to hospital, where their condition is stated to be critical, the sources said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the traffic movement on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway was halted after shooting stones hit Mehar and Panthiyal area, said officials. “Jammu-Srinagar NHW blocked due to continuous shooting stones at Mehar and Panthyal,” Jammu and Kashmir Traffic police said.

The highway is the lifeline of the Kashmir valley and the main road link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country. Notably, shooting stones triggered by rain in Ramban district have become a major hazard on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

Kashmir-bound trucks laden with essential supplies and other vehicles pass through the highway and fruit carrying trucks from Kashmir head for the rest of the country through this road.