The Director General of Police J&K Dilbag Singh on Monday declared open a month long 11th Police Martyrs Memorial T-20 Championship at Sports Stadium Kathua.
ADGP Jammu zone, Shri Mukesh Singh, DIG Admin PHQ Ms Sara Rizvi, DC Kathua Shri Rahul Panday, SSP Kathua Shri RC Kotwal, CO IRP 19th BN Shri Benam Tosh, AIG Training & Policy Shri JS Johar, Principal PTS Kathua Shri Roop Raj Bhagat, AIG (Communication) PHQ, Shri Manoj Kumar, Vice Principal PTS Kathua Shri Ranjit Singh, President of Shaheed Welfare Committee Kathua Shri Ravinder Salathia and members, families of martyrs and huge gathering of sports lovers attended the inaugural function.
Addressing on the occasion, the DGP said that the people of Kathua district have always overwhelmingly supported every sports activity held here. He appreciated the role of the Shaheed Welfare Committee Kathua and sponsors of the tournament for organizing tournament of this scale. DGP said that 11 teams out of 16 are from different states of north India. This shows the kind of popularity this tournament has been able to generate. Stressing for making the tournament even bigger, the DGP desired that each team should get sponsored. He said that besides this tournament J&K Police has been organizing different tournaments and events in memory of our bravehearts across the UT and informed that shortly a martyrs memorial football tournament is scheduled to commence in Srinagar.
Paying tributes to the fallen heroes of J&K Police personnel, the DGP said that the number of bravehearts who sacrificed their lives protecting the interests of the nation itself shows the capability of J&K Police in leading from the front in any situation. He said that during over last three decades Jammu and Kashmir Police fought every challenge with grit and courage.
The ADGP Jammu in his address said that the relation of Police and public is very strong in Kathua district and the people of Kathua have always supported J&K Police endeavours in organizing sports events. He appreciated the participation of all the teams and said that the participation of outside UT teams have increased the level of competition. The ADGP said that the tournament is being organized every year in memory of our martyrs and added that looking after the families of our martyrs has always been the utmost priority of J&K Police. He also thanked the UT government for re-naming the schools and other important places in the name of martyrs.
The welcome address was presented by SSP Kathua, Shri R.C Kotwal and the vote of thanks was presented by Ravinder Slathia.
In this championship, sixteen times viz Life Care Lucknow, Gurgoon SPJ Xi, Haryana Cricket Academy, Run Star Delhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri Cricket Club Delhi, Amigos Panipat, Jalandhar Sports Club Xi, Sabi Cricket Club Hoshiarpur, Krishnam 11 Amritsar, Vicky Cricket Club Pathankot, DPS Himachal, GSI Tiger Srinagar, Game Changer Jammu, KKR Marheen, District Kathua Cricket Association, Jammu & Kashmir Police are taking part in the tournament. The inaugural match was played between Sabi Cricket Club and Haryana Cricket Academy.
The tournament winner will be rewarded with trophy and cash prize of Rs 3.50 lakh, while the runner up team will receive trophy and cash prize of Rs 2.50 lakh and the man of the series will be awarded with a Maruti Alto 800 car. A motorcycle each will be awarded to the best batsman and best bowler of the championship.
Speaking to the media, the DGP said that T-20 Martyrs Cricket Championship is being organized every year to pay tributes to our fallen heroes and added that the tournament is gaining popularity in every passing year. He said that J&K Police with the support of the people and the youth have been organizing different tournaments and events in memory of martyrs across J&K and informed that in the coming few days a grand event of football tournament is scheduled to commence in Srinagar. With regard to the demolishing of a structure at Pulwama, the DGP said that it is the part of action being taken against the elements involved in anti-peace activities. He said that every institution or place used for terror activities is being identified and added that action under law would be taken against the involved. With regard to TRF he said that it is a mouthpiece of ISI to create disturbance. “We have been taking action against it and would continue our intensified efforts”, he added. Though the infiltration has come down, the terror training centers are still functional, our border security grid and anti-terrorist grids are very strong to foil the infiltration attempts, the DGP said.
After years of terrorism and destruction in J&K, supplying drugs is yet another criminal deed of Pakistan to target our youth and society adding that J&K Police has seized a number of consignment of drugs supplied from across the border. He said that our intensified action against the drug trade would continue and people found involved in it would face stringent action. He said besides the action against the drug trade, J&K Police is playing its part in rehabilitating the affected persons for which he said that JK Police has fully equipped drug de-action centres functional in Srinagar and Jammu cities besides drug de-addiction centers at Range levels. He also interacted with the players taking part in the inaugural match.
