The history of policing in Jammu and Kashmir is witnessed to courage, sacrifice, and moral resolve. Among the rare officers who stood firm when institutions themselves were under attack, Dr. Balbir Singh Bedi, IPS, former Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, occupies a place of lasting reverence.
A fearless police officer, a scholar of exceptional depth, and a humane leader, Dr. Bedi’s life symbolised integrity, intellectual strength, and unwavering commitment to duty. He lived an uncommon life so that others could live in peace.
24 January 1992: When Terror Struck Police Leadership, 24 January 1992 remains one of the most painful and defining days in the history of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
On that day, a high-level meeting of security forces was underway at the office of Shri Jitendra Narain Saksena, IPS, the then Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by senior officers including Ashok Patel (IG, BSF), M.K. Singh (IG, CRPF), Rajan Bakshi (DIG, Kashmir), and Veerana Aivalli (IGP, Kashmir).
During the meeting, a devastating terrorist blast ripped through the DGP’s office. Shri J.N. Saksena was critically injured, and all attending officers sustained grievous injuries. The attack was not merely an act of violence it was a direct assault on the top leadership of the security apparatus during one of the most turbulent phases of terrorism in the region.
First Hand Account from the Blast Site former SSP Sardar Khan then SHO Ram Munshi Bagh Remembers
At the time of the blast, Sardar Khan was present with then SP city Shri S.M. Sahai in the nearby SP city office.
“On hearing the explosion, we immediately rushed towards the DGP’s office,” Sardar Khan recalled.
What he witnessed was devastation. Without hesitation, he lifted the gravely injured DGP, Shri J.N. Saksena Sahib, onto his shoulders, carried him downstairs, and rushed him to the 92 Base Army Hospital Badami Bagh where emergency treatment began. Other injured senior officers were also admitted there.
The blast shook the police force to its core and posed a grave challenge to morale command, and continuity of leadership.
25 January 1992, Dr. B.S. Bedi Takes Charge
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, on 25 January 1992 leadership was entrusted to Dr. Balbir Singh Bedi, a 1961-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
He assumed charge at a time when terror sought not only to kill individuals but to paralyse institutions.
In his very first address to ground officers particularly SHOs and DySPs Dr. Bedi delivered a clear and resolute message:
“Work as if nothing has happened. Do not let fear come in the way of your duty.”
According to SSP Sardar Khan, then serving as an SHO (Ram Munshi Bagh) and was present in meeting, these words instantly restored confidence across the ranks and made it clear that the Jammu and Kashmir Police would not retreat in the face of terror.
Dr. Bedi was not a leader confined to files and offices. He led from all the fronts .
As recalled by SSP Sardar Khan, “Dr. B.S. Bedi Sahib was not only great in rank, but unmatched in courage, fearlessness, and field leadership.”
He moved freely across Srinagar, Karan Nagar, Nishat, Downtown, Raj bagh and across districts such as Anantnag, Pulwama, Doda, and Kishtwar, often without elaborate security. His presence reassured personnel and sent an clear and Loud message that the state would not surrender its authority.
Dr Balbir singh Bedi was Born in Daska, Sialkot (now in Pakistan), Dr. Bedi’s family migrated to Sirhind, Punjab after Partition. A brilliant student, he won multiple academic honours and developed a lifelong love for English literature.
Before joining the Indian Police Service, he taught at a postgraduate college for nearly three years an uncommon distinction that shaped his intellectual and ethical approach to policing.
He was later handpicked for some of the most challenging assignments in Punjab, including serving as DIG, Jalandhar Range (1985) during peak militancy, where his balanced yet firm style earned universal respect.
As DGP, Jammu and Kashmir, his tenure was marked by calm, decisive leadership during intense Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, including:
Strengthening the CID and intelligence apparatus
Emphasis on pure professionalism, discipline, and integrity,
Advanced training of officers, including outside the state, people-centric approach rooted in ethics and restraint he firmly believed that policing must always pass the tests of transparency, ethics, and probity.
Tribute from Former officers who served under the leadership of Dr Bedi.
S.S. Bijral Retd IGP Jammu and Kashmir police.
A First-Person Account
Among those who served closely under Dr. Bedi, former IGP S.S. Bijral offers one of the most insightful and heartfelt tributes:
“Dr. B.S. Bedi Sahib was an officer who combined a gentle heart with exceptional courage and an unwavering commitment to integrity. He was absolutely transparent, straightforward, and fearless in expressing his views.”
“From 1991 to 1994, when militancy in the Kashmir Valley was at its peak, I was posted as District SSP, Pulwama. The Valley was shaken by violence following events such as the Zia-ul-Haq plane crash and volatile situations around Lal Chowk during the Chaddi mubarakh – Amarnath Yatra.”
“Communication facilities were extremely limited, making policing even more challenging. At one point, due to compulsion, I sought a recommendation for transfer but the matter reached DGP Dr. Bedi Sahib.”
“In 1992, during a surprise visit to Pulwama, Dr. Bedi Sahib smiled and said in Punjabi: “Bijral teri transfer ta hou, lekin hou Bedi di transfer to Baad. (‘Your transfer will happen but only after Bedi’s transfer.)
“That was his style light humour, yet a message of deep trust and shared responsibility.”
“During meetings, when officers sought peace postings, he would remind us: ‘You are my trusted and capable officers. The ability to face district challenges lies with you.’”
“On another occasion, after his reappointment, he used a kabaddi analogy: ‘I said my breath has broken, but they kept saying No, you still have strength left.’ The message was clear the fight was not over.”
“Dr. Bedi Sahib constantly prepared his juniors to face adversity with resilience. Working under such an officer is a matter of pride. He was not just a senior officer, but a symbol of honest and fearless policing.”
“DGP B.S. Bedi’s Integrity, Vision and Policing Reforms Will Always Be Remembered”
Former IGP Jammu and Kashmir Police, J.P. Singh
Former IGP JP singh who served during the formative years of militancy in the state, remembers Dr. B.S. Bedi with deep respect and admiration.
“I hold DGP B.S. Bedi Sahib in very high regard. He was not only a senior police officer but a truly noble, honest, and principled human being. His integrity was absolute, and his commitment to professional policing never wavered,” J.P. Singh recalled.
Sharing a personal interaction, he said that during one of his meetings with Dr. Bedi Sahib, the latter narrated how he had successfully handled large-scale communal riots in Uttar Pradesh through firm control, intelligent deployment, and a deep understanding of crowd psychology. “That conversation revealed his exceptional policing acumen and his belief that law enforcement must always be firm, fair, and humane,” he said.
Recalling the early phase of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, J.P. Singh noted, “When Bedi Sahib was posted in the state, I was serving as a Deputy Superintendent of Police. Militancy was beginning to spread its roots, and the challenges before the police were unprecedented. At that critical juncture, Bedi Sahib provided clarity of direction and strength of leadership.”
He emphasized that Dr. Bedi played a pivotal role in strengthening the CID and intelligence framework, recognizing early on that the fight against terrorism required precise information, professional investigation, and strategic foresight. “He introduced several structural and functional reforms, ensured discipline within the force, and focused strongly on upgrading the professional capabilities of officers,” he said. Singh further highlighted Dr. Bedi’s emphasis on training:
“He ensured that many officers were sent outside the state for advanced training so that they could return better equipped to handle the complex security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. This investment in human capital had long-term benefits for the force.”
Singh concluded,
“Dr. B.S. Bedi Sahib will always be remembered for his honesty, his vision, and his reforms. He led by example and left behind a legacy of ethical, courageous, and professional policing. Officers like him are rare, and their influence endures long after their tenure ends.”
Dr. Balbir Singh Bedi, A Fearless Police Officer, Scholar, and Natural Leader
From the memories of former DIG Manmohan Singh
Dr. Balbir Singh Bedi was not merely a high-calibre police officer; he was also a scholar, a sensitive human being, and a fearless leader. The memories associated with him continue to inspire us with lessons of service, integrity, and courage.
At that time, I was posted in the CID as a Deputy Superintendent of Police. Later, I was transferred to the Police Academy, Udhampur. My first meeting with Bedi Sahib took place during a passing-out parade. With great simplicity, he asked me how long I had been posted there. When I replied that it had been a year, shortly thereafter he transferred me to Kishtwar and entrusted me with the responsibility of SDPO Kishtwar.
Those days were extremely challenging for Kishtwar, as militancy was at its peak in the region. In such circumstances, the guidance of an officer with leadership qualities like Bedi Sahib was a great source of strength for us. During my tenure, he visited Kishtwar once or twice. I saw him as a dynamic, dashing, and decisive officer who took prompt decisions and genuinely appreciated hardworking officers.
Bedi Sahib was not only an able administrator but also a professor of literature. He delivered lectures in several colleges and influenced countless students through his scholarship. In Uttar Pradesh as well, he had a distinct reputation as a capable and honest officer. As a human being, he was extremely noble, simple, and sensitive.
The then Governor, Grish chander Saxena Sahib who had earlier served as the DGP of Uttar Pradesh had complete faith in Bedi Sahib. Bedi Sahib had served under him in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, and this trust was a clear testimony to his competence and integrity.
One unforgettable incident from 1993 remains vivid in memory, when RSS leader Mr. Bhandari was assassinated by terrorists. Following this incident, the law-and-order situation in Kishtwar became extremely serious. There was firing and loss of life. In that difficult time, Bedi Sahib stood firmly with us. With his unwavering guidance and full support, we collectively managed to bring the situation under control.
Bedi Sahib possessed all the qualities that every junior wishes to see in a senior clear vision, fearlessness, justice, and humanity. He was truly a natural-born leader.
The memory of Dr. Balbir Singh Bedi will always remain a source of inspiration for us. The legacy of his service, scholarship, and human values will live on forever.
Former DIG Manmohan Singh J&K Police
Manmohan Singh
Scholar, Mentor, and Thinker
After retirement, Dr. Bedi served as Member, Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, shaping future administrators. He fulfilled his academic dream by earning a Ph.D. and D.Litt. in English Literature, returning to teaching with the same discipline he brought to policing.
His life is chronicled in A Life Uncommon: B.S. Bedi The Incredible Journey of an I.P.S. Officer, authored by his daughter Preeti Singh Enduring Legacy
Dr. Balbir Singh Bedi passed away on 25 January 2026 the very date on which he had assumed charge as DGP of Jammu and Kashmir in 1992.
Two minutes of silence was observed by Sh Nalin Prabhat DGP And All Ranks at Police Headquarters in the memory of fallen General.
As Former Sr, Superintendent of Police Sardar Khan poignantly observed:
“Officers like Dr. B.S. Bedi Sahib never truly die. They live on through their courage, their deeds, and the confidence they instilled in generations of police officers.”
Dr. B.S. Bedi remains a symbol of fearless leadership, a clean hearth , and honest policing a man who chose duty over fear and principles over convenience. He truly lived an uncommon life so that others could live in peace.
