Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday said that if Pakistan doesn’t stop sending infiltrators to Kashmir, the army won’t mind in crossing over to launch a strike there to dismantle all militant camps.
Governor Malik’s statement came a day after Army Chief General Bipin Rawat’s statement that three militant camps were destroyed in an artillery strike across the LoC in Tangdhar sector. He had also stated that six to ten Pakistani army soldiers were killed in the artillery strike launched by the Indian army.
“Pakistan must behave. If they don’t mend their ways, what happened yesterday, more than that will happen,” Governor Malik told reporters on the sidelines of Police Commemoration Day at Zewan on Srinagar outskirts where top officials from the administration and the police were present.
He, however, said that that war is a bad thing and no solution to the issues, adding that if Pakistan doesn’t mend its ways and stop sending infiltrators to this side army will cross LoC and damage all militant camps there.
In a veiled message to militants, Governor Malik said that these “boys who are shouting” must join peace process and start their new journey in new Kashmir.
“I want to ask these boys who are roaming around, what they have achieved. They must join the journey of new Kashmir and contribute towards it,” he said.
He was apparently referring to November 1 when Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would officially be declared as Union Territories (UTs). On August 5, Centre scrapped the 70-year-old special status to Jammu and Kashmir and announced J&K and Ladakh as two UTs.
Earlier, in the speech, the Governor showered praises on the Jammu and Kashmir police stating that Centre is proud of this force which is purely professional in nature. He said all the demands put forth by the Jammu and Kashmir will be met in a time-bound manner. “Centre has already accepted the demand of police that their ex-gratia will be at part with the Central forces which is Rs one Crore. So if a J&K police man dies in line of duty, an ex-gratia of Rs one crore will be paid to the next of kin of slain,” Governor Malik said.
Remembering the sacrifice of 292 security force personnel of different States, including 30 officers and jawans of Jammu and Kashmir Police, who laid down their lives for the nation during the past one year, the Governor said that the country is indebted to all “these martyrs” and will always remember their sacrifices for upholding the rule of law and ensuring safety and security of the people.
Speaking on the occasion, DGP Dilbagh Singh also paid respectful homage to the martyrs of JKP and other para-military forces who laid down their lives in the service of the nation. He said that country will remember them forever and this important day reminds us the sacrifices of our brave soldiers who lay down their lives fighting militancy for the unity and integrity of the nation. “We salute their courage and valour with which they fought the menace of militancy and offered their sacrifices for the secure future of our coming generations. We also salute to the families of the martyrs and express our sympathies with them” the DGP asserted.
He expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and Governor for taking various initiatives for the Police force like enhancement of compensation, risk allowance and other welfare measures for the families of the martyrs which will further boost the morale of the force and encourage them to serve with more courage and dedication. (KNS)
