Pahalgam massacre brings spotlight on J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat

Was CRPF DIG when 75 paramilitary men were killed in Chhattisgarh

Jammu: The April 22, 2025, terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as the deadliest assault on tourists in the region since the 2019 Pulwama tragedy.

Militants, reportedly linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), opened fire on tourists in the Baisaran meadow, resulting in the loss of at least 28 lives and injuries to over 20 others.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah too visited the Baisaran attack site and took stock of the situation and security apparatus.

The scale and brutality of the attack have triggered critical discussions regarding the adequacy of preventive security arrangements, especially in sensitive tourist zones.

Among the issues being debated is the strategic deployment of security personnel under the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP), Nalin Prabhat.

A 1992-batch Indian Police Service officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, Prabhat assumed charge as the DGP of the Union Territory in October 2024. His experience in counter-insurgency operations was a key factor behind his appointment.

It is pertinent to recall that during an earlier phase of his career, as a CRPF DIG in Chhattisgarh, Prabhat was posted in Dantewada at a time when a Maoist ambush in 2010 led to the death of 75 CRPF personnel and a state police officer. The incident had led to wider conversations on field-level intelligence and response mechanisms.

While there is no official indication of personal negligence in the present case, the recurrence of such large-scale attacks raises important questions on institutional readiness and the challenges of counter-terrorism in volatile terrains.

As the investigation progresses, there is a renewed call for strengthening on-ground coordination, enhancing intelligence inputs and ensuring clear accountability mechanisms.

The government’s response in the coming days will be crucial not only for justice but also for restoring public confidence in the security infrastructure.

S Gopal Puri