Srinagar: As a part of the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Jammu and Kashmir Police organized a cycle race “Pedal for Peace” here this morning under its Civic Action Programme (CAP).
The race was divided into seven different categories wherein 2264 professional & non professional cyclists participated. Special attraction of raffle draw was introduced for the first time.
The Director General of Police J&K Dilbag Singh and Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Home Department J&K, R K Goyal graced the occasion at the Flag In presentation ceremony.
Special DsG R R Swain & A K Choudhary, DG Prison H K Lohia, ADGsP M K Sinha, Sunil Kumar, Danesh Rana, Vijay Kumar, Div Com Kashmir Pandurang K. Pole, IGsP Vikramjit Singh, BS Tuti, DIsG Sujit Kumar, Shahid Mehraj DC Srinagar, SSP Srinagar, AIsG of PHQ, Kashmir based AP/IRP Commandants, officers from civil administration, jurisdictional officers and large number of people witnessed the presentation ceremony.
In the morning ADGP Armed J&K SJM Gillani flanked by DIG Armed/IRP Shahid Mehraj and Commandants of Kashmir based Armed as well as IRP battalions flagged off the different categories of cyclists from Lalit Ghat, Police Golf Course, Srinagar.
Speaking on the occasion, the DGP expressed his gratitude to the senior officers of Police, Civil administration, people and above all the participants for making today’s event a grand success and bigger as compared to its previous seasons. He congratulated ADGP Armed J&K, his team and other associated teams for organizing this event wholeheartedly and patiently resulting in the participation of a large number of senior, young boys and girls cyclists and making this event a big success.
Addressing cyclists the DGP said that every pedal you do is changing the scenario of Jammu and Kashmir towards a new milestone of a more peaceful environment. He said that when we get the support and company of people it not only boosts our morale but it feels we are on the same path aiming for the same goal. The path is comfortable now and will be more comfortable in the coming times, he added. Appreciating the participants the DGP said that a lot of hurdles have been crossed adding that remaining hurdles would also be scaled.
The DGP said that J&K Police is organizing a number of events and programmes which are aimed for participation of Police and people together. Whether in uniform or without uniform we are one family and our mission is one that is bright future for our children, safe and secure life for people of all ages adding that our. Referring to the upcoming event of Jashn-e-dal the DGP said that Dal Lake is our pride, Kashmir’s beauty is not talked about without Dal lake and it should be our prime responsibility to help in keeping it neat and clean.
Referring to the tourist influx this year the DGP said the beauty and the hospitality of Kashmir is the talk of the world again and hoped that it would continue to be top priority of the tourists in the coming time. He said that the cooperation and support Jammu and Kashmir Police is getting from the people will help further in consolidating the prevailing peace. He congratulated the winners of today’s event.
Financial Commission (Additional Chief Secretary) Home Department J&K R K Goyal speaking on the occasion said that he feels extremely happy to be a part of this great event. He said that the events of J&K Police always have a special charm and depict the vibrancy of the department. He said that today’s participants who are of different age groups encourage every one that age is just a number.
He congratulated DGP J&K, ADGP Armed and IGP Traffic for supervising and conducting the event in a befitting manner. Organizing such an event on a large scale requires a lot of planning and hard work, he appreciated the team of J&K Police and also participants for making the event a grand success. He hoped that the J&K Police will work towards organizing a cyclothon. He wished good luck to the J&K Police who would organise the All India Police Football tournament very soon and hoped that under the leadership of DGP J&K the tournament would be conducted in a befitting way.
Earlier, in his welcome address ADGP Armed J&K SJM Gillani said that Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police is organising a number of sports events adding that every passing year participation is increasing. He said that due to overwhelming response in these events the prize money has been increased to above Rs five lakh in today’s event which will be distributed among more than fifty participants. He said that in the coming two months more events are being organized which includes marathon race, Jashn-e-dal, Martyrs Memorial Football tournament. He informed that J&K Police this year is organising the All India Police Football Tournament in Srinagar.
Speaking to the media, the DGP said that the event is catching more participation every passing year adding that the youngest participant of today is 3 year old. The event is organized under J&K Police’s Civic Action Programme wherein people of all ages are taking part, it’s our endeavour to work along with the people for the peace of J&K, the DGP said. He said that such events help in channelizing the energy of youth/children into a positive direction. He said that such events encourage children to achieve their goals in different fields, adding that these events play a very important role in guiding them to stay away from drugs & other paths of destruction, he said. He said the children and youth have suffered in education and growth in the past and with the large participation of them today it feels that the time has changed now. He said that J&K has lost number of people due to the terrorism adding that most of those bad elements responsible for the death & destruction of people of J&K have been neutralised and hoped that those remaining bad elements would be neutralised. He gave credit to the people of Jammu and Kashmir adding that their support & cooperation to the J&K Police has been immense.
