On April 22, 2025, a tragic terror attack struck Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, claiming the lives of 26 tourists, including 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen. Pahalgam terror attack might have stirred not only the Kashmir valley but the entire country, few know the reason behind the peace that had descended on the Valley for the past few years. It is Nal)in Prabhat, a 1992 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, who is presently serving as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir.
Only a few police officers in the country can match Mr Prabhat’s experience in combating militancy in various forms. Long before the 2019 Pulwama suicide attack on a CRPF convoy, Kashmir saw ferocious bombings and suicidal attacks on national highways, schools, hotels, cantonments, camps, and other strategic locations. But one man who struck terror into the hearts of Pak-trained terrorists and suicide bombers was Nalin Prabhat, who was part of the CRPF operations team. Sometimes heading it and sometimes overseeing the operations on the ground.
A 1992-batch officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre served his home cadre only for the initial 12 years of his service, he was posted as Superintendent of Police (SP)in districts like Karimnagar, Kadapa, and Warangal. Most of these districts at that time were facing intense violence from left-wing extremists (Naxalites).
In 2004, he was sent on central deputation to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for only three months before being shifted to a more combative role in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Srinagar. Little did he realise then that he would be stuck in Kashmir for most of his serving life and would one day be posted as DGP of the state police.
He remained in the ITBP till December 2006 before being shifted to the CRPF as DIG in South Kashmir, where he served for the next three years. Mr. Nalin Prabhat was transferred out of Kashmir for a little while in 1010 but to another militant Naxal’s hotbed of Bastar in Chhattisgarh and Andhra, as DIG, CRPF, leading the ferocious Greyhound Force. He was back in Srinagar later that year and kept fighting militancy and terrorism first as IG and then as Additional DG of CRPF.
His stints were full of action as Pakistan sponsored suicide bombers into Kashmir to inflict maximum casualties. CRPF was responsible for the law and order in urban areas of Kashmir, while the army’s Rashtriya Rifles was responsible in villages, rural areas along the Line of Control. That’s why Mr. Nalin Prabhat was never at an arm’s length from terror attack epicentres in Kashmir.
A suicide attack on a hotel at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk in 2010 was neutralised by the CRPF under then DIG CRPF Mr Nalin Prabhat’s leadership. He earned praise from the then Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram for prompt response and effective tackling of terrorists without any civilian casualties.
Six years later, a gun battle rattled Sempora on the outskirts of Srinagar city. Terrorists were hiding in the EDI building after ambushing a CRPF convoy on the highway. Two paramilitary constables were killed in the initial ambush. Mr. Nalin Prabhat was the CRPF’s IG operations at that time. The army, police, and the CRPF conducted an operation that lasted several days.
His diverse roles and prolonged tenure in Jammu and Kashmir, combined with his experience in anti-Naxal operations, underscore a profound understanding of asymmetric warfare and the complex security challenges prevalent in the region.
He was again drafted out for some time out of Kashmir in 2023, but again in another crucial role as DG of the elite National Security Guards (NSG), only to be brought back next year as the DGP of Jammu and Kashmir. To facilitate his appointment, his tenure in NSG was abruptly cut short, and the cadre changed from Andhra Pradesh to AGMUT (as J&K had become a Union Territory by that time).
This strategic decision by the government highlights the critical importance placed on his experience in leading the Jammu and Kashmir Police, especially in light of increasing security concerns. Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, DGP Prabhat immediately engaged in addressing the crisis. He also chaired high-level security review meetings to assess the situation and formulate a comprehensive response.
He visited the site of the attack in Pahalgam to gain a firsthand understanding of the incident and its implications. Under his leadership, the Jammu and Kashmir Police announced a bounty for information leading to the capture of the terrorists involved. Raids and verification drives were also initiated across the Kashmir Valley as part of the efforts to apprehend suspects and prevent any further attacks. The J&K police blew up houses of known terrorists after evacuating their families as a deterrent against sheltering the extremists.
Born on March 14, 1968, in Thungri Village, Manali, Himachal Pradesh, Nalin Prabhat possesses a strong academic foundation. He pursued higher education at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, one of India’s premier institutions, earning a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Master of Arts degree.
Nalin Prabhat’s career is distinguished by numerous awards and recognitions, including the prestigious Police Medal for Gallantry, which he has received three times, and the Parakram Padak, acknowledging his bravery and distinguished service.
His decorated career, marked by multiple gallantry awards, underscores his bravery and effectiveness. Despite limited personal details, Prabhat’s professional journey reflects a steadfast commitment to national security, making him a pivotal figure in shaping Jammu and Kashmir’s security landscape.
