After the 76th Independence day celebrations passed off peacefully in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir during the day terrorists launched two back to back grenade attacks in Srinagar and the central Kashmir district of Budgam late in the evening in which one police personnel and one civilian received injuries on Monday.
Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha hoisted the Tricolour at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium,Srinagar while Advisor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar hoisted the tricolour at the main function held at M A Stadium in Jammu.
According to a police spokesman, "Terrorists hurled a grenade at Police Control Room Kashmir, resulting in minor injuries to one police personnel. In the second incident of grenade lobbing, " terrorists hurled grenade in Gopalpora Chadoora area of Budgam in which one civilian namely Karan Kumar Singh got injured. He has been shifted to Srinagar hospital for treatment where his condition is stated to be stable. Area cordoned off. Further details shall follow".
Meanwhile, a police constable, who was injured during a counter-terrorism operation in Srinagar on Sunday, succumbed to his injuries on Monday. According to police, a “chance encounter” broke out in Nowhatta area with terrorists Sunday late evening for which CRPF and police were on the job. Constable Sarfaraz Ahmad, a resident of Batote area of Ramban district, got injured during the operation but succumbed to his injuries later in the hospital. "We pay rich tributes to the martyr for his supreme sacrifice made in the line of duty,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.
Addressing the gathering after inspecting an impressive parade, LG Manoj Sinha said, "A befitting reply is being given to those who are trying to mislead our youth with a nefarious proxy war. A final blow is being dealt to the terror ecosystem operating at the behest of the neighboring country".
"We will push the last nail in the coffin of terrorism. Strikes, stone pelting and protests have become things of the past". "I appeal to the 1 crore 30 lakh citizens of Jammu and Kashmir to speak with one voice against terrorism and atrocities on the innocent".
Sounding a note of caution Sinha said, "India, the mother of democracy, wants peace and welfare of the entire humanity, but we are also ready to defend our freedom, sovereignty and integrity with full zeal".
On the auspicious occasion, LG Manoj Sinha also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership in taking the country, and Jammu and Kashmir, forward on the path of development.
Referring to the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K, L-G Sinha said that PM Modi had lit a lamp of modern economic and social development three years ago and added that the J&K administration has achieved notable accomplishments in the past years. “Despite various challenges, we have completed 50,726 projects in the last financial year with a five times speed,” L-G Sinha informed.
Calling it a “new dawn of hopes and dreams”, the J&K Lieutenant Governor asserted that the UT is scripting history and is recording unprecedented performance in every sector.
Making an important announcement on the occasion LG Manoj Sinha said, "We have decided that a Gaurav Stambh shall be established in Srinagar in memory of the brave soldiers who have sacrificed their lives defending our beloved motherland. Listing out welfare measures for the next of kin of bravehearts, LG Manoj Sinha said the Government has increased the compensation amount for the families of army personnel of Jammu and Kashmir martyred in the line of duty from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh. The administration has decided to bear the cost of Jammu and Kashmir Police’s martyr wards up to class 12th. Agniveers after military service shall get 10 percent reservation in the recruitments to be conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. On the occasion of Independence Day, I also announce the reorganization of Village Defence Committees.
LG Manoj Sinha said, "I want to call upon the people of Jammu and Kashmir that this is a golden opportunity to restore the pride and excellence of Jammu and Kashmir.
Let us build a self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir for the coming generations and realize the dreams of our ancestors" Let us walk into the bright future of Jammu and Kashmir, he concluded.