SRINAGAR: Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Dilbag Singh on Monday said that maintaining peace is the biggest challenge for the forces.

Talking to media persons in South Kashmir after the launching of 160 sophisticated vehicles for the force, he said that to restore peace is the biggest challenge, but to maintain it is a bigger challenge for the forces.

“I feel the police forces have the sufficient resources, strength, training, high morale and are capable to take any kind of challenge that will always be a matter of happiness for me always”, the outgoing DGP said.

Dilbag Singh who retires on October 31 and senior IPS officer R R Swain, presently working as Special DG in the Jammu and Kashmir Police has been given additional charge as the Director General of the state's police force with effect from November 1.

Regarding yesterday's attack on a Police Inspector at Eidgah in Srinagar, Singh said the officer had gone out to play cricket in the ground with a team of officers and was hit by terrorists . He said the officer is recovering in the hospital.

”We have to be cautious as threats are still around and we can’t take our lives so lightly rather to remain more careful”, Singh added.

Regarding the counter infiltration grid, the DGP said that security arrangements are at place along the Line of Control and International border.

“The day I went to the Keran area there had been an encounter during which five terrorists were killed and today again an encounter is going on and we are collecting updates about that”.

“Our troops are firmly in control of the situation on the border”, he said and added “this year most of the encounters took place at LOC”.

They (Pakistan) have tried to push in more number of terrorists to this side and our troops are fully prepared and fully alert and aware about the designs of our adversary and able to take care of their motives and have neutralized most of the terrorists at LoC and IB, Sigh said.

“I am sure that our troops would be able to take any kind of challenge on the border and our border grid is very strong”, he said.

To a question about the ceasefire violations from across the border at Arnia sector in Jammu division, the DGP said “I see it is an aberration. The people have responded and tried to look into the causes why it happened and they are still in the process of confirming and verifying…I am not able to comment beyond this”.

Singh said the ceasefire understanding has brought a lot of respite for the people living on the borders on both sides and that has paid good dividends.

He said the ceasefire must continue and better understanding should prevail.

To another question that Pakistan may keep pot boiling during the forthcoming Parliamentary elections, the DGP said “I don’t want to speculate..they always tried to disturb the peace here and during the militancy continued but the brave force of J&K police force and other forces including Army and the biggest support of the people we have been able to eliminate that kind of the ill-intentions of the adversary”.

He said during the elections, people would be alert to take the regional challenges very carefully.

Singh on relieving his post said “I am not leaving the forces, I am with the force and I will always be with the force. A Policeman is always a policeman. I have been a policeman for the past 37 years and I will remain a policeman. He said my love will remain for the police force”. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: A day after a major infiltration bid was foiled and five Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were killed along the Line of Control, a senior Army officer on Friday said there has been a constant endeavour from Pakistan to disturb the prevailing peace and vitiate the security environment in Jammu and Kashmir.

The General officer Commanding of Kupwara based 28 Infantry Division, Major General Girish Kalia said the defence establishments in Pakistan and terrorist groups are determined to create disturbance in the valley.
The Army officer said security forces and government agencies in Jammu and Kashmir have been working tirelessly with great energy to maintain peace and tranquility in the Union Territory.

“Due to these relentless efforts, the security situation has improved tremendously especially in the last 3 to 4 years. This has paved the way for development and promotion of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.

This normalcy has brought prosperity and growth which has somehow not gone well with inimical elements. That is why there has been a constant endeavor from across the Line of Control to disturb this peace and vitiate the security environment in Jammu and Kashmir,” Maj Gen Kalia said during a media interaction in Kupwara.
The Army officer said continuous attempts of infiltration were being made from across the LoC.

“In the last eight months, we had 10 such attempts in our divisional area of responsibility which have resulted in elimination of 27 terrorists and recovery of large quantities of war-like stores,” he said.

The GoC said in addition, they have also recovered a huge quantity of narcotics which establishes a deep nexus between the defence establishments in Pakistan and terrorist groups.

“They are all determined to create disturbance in the valley and impact the future of the generations in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that development is only possible when there is peace and stability.

Addressing a gathering in frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara, the Lieutenant Governor said that development is possible only in the conditions of peace & stability.

“We have a clear policy of not sparing the guilty & not touching the innocent”, he said and added “On the path of peace & progress, it is our collective responsibility to ensure all the citizens lead a life of prosperity & dignity”.

J&K administration is not only ensuring economic development but also delivering social justice by providing land to landless population including tribal communities, Sinha said.

The LG said infrastructure development is progressing at a rapid pace & common man is the main stakeholder of development processes.
“Our goal is to ensure a feeling of safety, security & happiness in society”, he added.

He said the border tourism is promoted to link the far-flung areas with the mainstream of development. We'll ensure expectations of people are fulfilled and all sections work shoulder to shoulder to build a new J&K.

The Lieutenant Governor also dedicated a multi-purpose Indoor Sports Hall to the youth of Kupwara today.
He said it will nurture their sporting talent & optimise their development. Also, Sinha inaugurated various development projects worth Rs 32 Crore for all round development of the district.

The Lt Governor said for a long time, access to facilities, avenues for career progression & opportunity to perform was missing for sportspersons. We are investing more than ever before to create a support system & empowering them to reach their potential & enjoy security in their non-sporting lives, he added. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that the Armed Forced Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will go from Jammu and Kashmir too but only when "permanent peace" will be restored.

Singh was speaking at a Security Conclave organised by the BJP here at University of Jammu.

"AFSPA was removed from the larger parts of North East and it will also withdrawn from the Jammu and Kashmir whenever "permanent peace" will be restored," said Singh adding that there is no fixed time for it. On PoJK, he said, "PoJK was, is and will be an integral part of India."

Singh however, counted the achievements made in the Defence sector in nine years period of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government.

He further said that people of Jammu and Kashmir were delivered justice after the revocation of Article 370 and 35A of which they remained deprived for decades.

On Defence sector, he said, "India is getting stronger day by day and we are capable of giving befitting reply to our adversaries within our territory and across the border as well."

"The defence mechanism will never be allowed to be weakened," he stated. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party youth leader against whom a police case is still pending in the court of law has been named the inaugural Yale Peace Fellow at Yale’s International Leadership Center.
   The Peace Fellowship brings emerging leaders on peace to Yale for an intensive period of research, mentoring and training; and to participate in high-level strategy events on peace and conflict resolution.
   Parra as per the Emma Sky, director of the International Leadership Center at Yale is a native of India and is a political leader who has dedicated his life to the cause of strengthening democracy and peace in Kashmir.
  Former Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has congratulated Parra on his selection as the inaugural Yale Peace Fellow at Yale University. “His contributions towards strengthening democracy & peace in Kashmir has been outstanding. I wish him luck,” she said.
  PDP leader Nayeem Akhtar said that at home Wahid Parra faces UAPA. “Before getting bail in multiple cases by NIA, SIA he was detained for over 6 months, interrogated, and jailed for 2 years. Waheed has a lead role to play in resolving conflict around J&K, involving youth in the democratic process. He’s a leader of peace,” Nayeem Akhtar said. (KNT)

SRINAGAR: World Peace Institute of United Nations (WPIUN) Monday felicitated Kashmir’s young and eminent Bilal Ahmad Parray with honorary doctorate degree during a function held in New Delhi.

The eminent youth peace activist Bilal Ahmad Parray (29), was awarded the Doctorate in the “Peace and Social” stream by World Peace Institute of United Nations (WPIUN) – one of the leading international-level distance education centers in India that provides quality education in various disciplines.

Considering his contribution in the field Dr. Bilal Ahmad Parray was also felicitated and appointed National Vice President of the World Peace Institute of the United Nations.

Notably Dr. Bilal Parray has tirelessly worked for peace activism in Kashmir since his teenage under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Development Foundation (JKDF).

Several political, religious, and social organization heads in separate statements have congratulated Dr. Bilal Parray for this major and outstanding felicitation. (GNS)