Srinagar, Oct 31: Sandeep Chaudhary, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer who served as the Chief Investigating Officer in the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack case, has been conferred the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Investigation (Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak) for 2026.
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the awardees on Saturday, with Chaudhary being recognised in the investigation category for his role in handling one of the most significant terror attack investigations in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
A 2012-batch IPS officer of the AGMUT cadre, Chaudhary led the NIA investigation into the deadly terror attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, where 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by terrorists on April 22, 2025. The NIA took over the investigation shortly after the attack and subsequently filed a chargesheet in the case, naming several accused, including Lashkar-e-Taiba figures Hafiz Saeed and Sajid Jatt.
Currently posted as Deputy Inspector General in the NIA, Chaudhary has a considerable track record in counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Before joining the premier investigating agency, he served as Senior Superintendent of Police in Shopian, Anantnag and Srinagar, where he was associated with several counter-insurgency operations and anti-terror initiatives.
His contribution to counter-terrorism operations has also earned him gallantry medals on nine occasions, reflecting his extensive operational experience in the challenging security environment of Jammu and Kashmir.
Apart from gallantry recognitions, Chaudhary has received commendation discs from the Chief of Army Staff, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force, and the Directors General of the CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and NIA.
The latest recognition adds another significant honour to his professional career, acknowledging his investigative contribution to a case that drew national attention and triggered a major security response across Jammu and Kashmir.