Arrested DySP Davinder Singh did not win President's medal

Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Davinder Singh, who was arrested while ferrying two Hizbul Mujahideen militants to Jammu on January 11, did not win the President's medal as was claimed earlier.

Singh had ferried Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Naveed Babu to Jammu last year and facilitated his return to Shopian after "rest and recuperation". He is believed to have taken Rs 12 lakh for smuggling the two militants to Chandigarh and arrange for their accommodation for a couple of months, officials said.

After reports surfaced that Singh had won the President's medal, the J&K Police posted a string of tweets clarifying it was not true. “It is to clarify that Dysp Davinder Singh is not awarded any Gallantry or Meritorious Medal by MHA as has been reported by some media outlets/persons Only gallantry medal awarded to him during his service is by the erstwhile J&K State on Independence Day 2018.”

The J&K Police further clarified that the medal was awarded to Singh “for his Participation in countering a Fidayeen Attack by Terrorists at District Police Lines Pulwahma on 25/26 Aug 2017 when he was posted there as DySP District Police Lines Pulwama”.

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They went on to add that the special investigation team, which is handling the interrogation of Singh and the terrorists, will also probe his involvement in any other “criminal acts” in the past.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will soon take over Singh's case.

Singh, a decorated police officer, joined the Jammu and Kashmir Police as a sub-inspector in 1990 and was inducted into the Special Operations Group, a unit meant to combat militants, in 1994.