SRINAGAR, Oct 21: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said that Pakistan continues to conspire against India and is using terrorism to weaken democratic values of jammu and Kashmir and kill innocent people here.
Addressing a function here at Police Commemoration Day, the LG said, “We won’t forget yesterday’s dastardly attack.”
“The threat of terrorism from across the border remains real. They are using terrorism to weaken our democratic values and kill innocent people. As the birthplace of terrorism, our neighbouring country continues to conspire against us,” he said.
Sinha said that to combat Pakistani conspiracies, police, Army and security forces must act without any negligence. “I have complete trust in you, and you must find and eliminate terrorists. I also want to share with you that our core policies against terrorism and crime are very strong. Security personnel must remain committed. They must protect the innocent and bring the culprits to justice. With this commitment, we need to fight terrorism and safeguard the lives and property of our people,” he said.
The LG emphasized that those responsible for the attack must pay the price.
“I want to emphasize that we have not forgotten the cowardly attacks on our security forces in the Jammu region. Yesterday’s heart-wrenching incident has shaken everyone, and those responsible for these heinous crimes must pay the price. We need to harness the social consciousness of Jammu and Kashmir to mitigate the impact of terrorism,” he said.
Sinha expected that the police will act swiftly to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“I believe no one supports the bloodshed of innocent people. I expect the Jammu and Kashmir Police to act swiftly to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. I urge you to pay tribute to the deceased and support the police, Army and security forces in their mission,” he said.
He stressed strengthening the police force for effective counterterrorism efforts. “I also urge you to actively participate in social campaigns against drug abuse. Strengthening the police force through better training and preparation is crucial, especially for effective counterterrorism efforts. It is vital to raise awareness about stress and enhance the capabilities of our forces to respond promptly to emerging threats,” he said.
“In the next few years, we aim to improve cooperation among support agencies. Our training should focus on three pillars: awareness, capability and vigilance to ensure continuous success. We must protect not only the 1.4 million lives in Jammu and Kashmir but also the region’s social fabric, economy and core values,” he said
Sinha said that for peace and order to prevail in J&K, every citizen needs to contribute to it. “We must also be prepared to protect the heritage that exists here,” he said.
The LG said that police, Army and Central security forces have achieved significant success in combating terrorism in J&K.
“Our brave soldiers have made many sacrifices to defend this region. Today, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are living on their own terms, thanks to these efforts and new ideas brought forward”, he said.
Sinha said that J&K can’t afford to tolerate forces that threaten the identity of the place and unity is needed to defeat such elements.
“This progress has paved the way for development and tourism. Your participation in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections has fostered confidence among the people and demonstrated that peace and order are possible. To continue along this path of development, we must remain vigilant,” he said.
“The social consciousness of jammu and Kashmir must be harnessed to strengthen our democratic values and mitigate harm. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard both lives and livelihoods and ensure the prosperity of the region”.
The LG said that that it is the responsibility of security forces to protect innocent lives, strengthen the national economy, and uphold the fundamental values of this land. “By leveraging the social awareness of Jammu and Kashmir, we can reinforce our democratic values and minimize damage”.
“As we work towards the development of Jammu and Kashmir, we must focus on protecting vulnerable sections of society, especially women and children, by taking firm action against crime. Effective monitoring and prevention of such crimes should be a continuous effort,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sinha today directed Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary (Home Department, J&K) to immediately provide financial assistance to the families of civilian victims of Gagangeer terrorist attack.
He has also asked the APCO Infratech company to release the compensation without any delay. The officials of APCO Infratech briefed the Lieutenant Governor on assistance being provided to the kin / family members.
Under SRE, Rs.6 lakh will be given to the next of kin of each martyred civilian and Rs.15 lakh as an immediate measure to be provided by APCO Infratech. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh will be provided to all the injured.
Additionally, APCO Infratech will also provide financial assistance to the families of civilians on roll under Corporate Personal Accident Policy and 5 years of their gross CTC as compensation from insurance. All PRW labour and third-party employees are covered under workman compensation policy and accordingly financial assistance to be provided. Lieutenant Governor said, the Government and APCO Infratech company will ensure every possible financial assistance to the next of kin and other necessary support as required.
“Though it is an irreparable loss and cannot be compensated monetarily, we are taking concrete measures for the families of the martyr civilians so that they live a life of dignity,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
