R-Day celebrations pass off peacefully in Valley

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 27

All Republic Day programmes across Kashmir passed off peacefully amidst tight security arrangements and complete shutdown.

No untoward incident was reported even as people observed shutdown in the absence of any call from separatist groups.

The main function of the 71st Republic Day was held at SK Cricket Stadium, Sonwar, in Srinagar where Farooq Khan, Adviser to the Lt-Governor, unfurled the national flag and took salute at the march past presented by contingents of police forces and students.

The authorities had sealed all roads leading to the stadium after intelligence inputs suggested the possibility of militant attacks to disrupt the event, an official said.

Heavy contingents of the police and CRPF had laid down a multi-layer cordon around the stadium. Barricades and checkpoints were set up around the stadium.

The function at the stadium was attended mostly by state government officials and a few political workers.

Various wings of police and schoolchildren participated in the parade. The students presented a colourful cultural programme.

Khan paid tributes to Dr BR Ambedkar, who gave India Constitution, which guaranteed rights to every citizen without discrimination of caste, colour, region or religion, and the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for country’s sovereignty.

He said the introduction of the ‘Back to Village’ programme, a unique mechanism to register and address public grievances at people’s doorsteps, witnessed a huge public participation and the officers of the civil administration reached out to every corner of the Union Territory.

Under the programme, he said, a number of developmental projects had been taken up, some were completed, while others were nearing completion.

To strengthen the democracy at the grass-roots level and to involve people in decision-making for developmental process, he said, panchayat election were conducted across Jammu and Kashmir but the highlight of 2019 was holding of the first ever Block Development Committee elections.

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for exhibiting keenness in the development and progress of Jammu and Kashmir, the Adviser said the Central government has taken a slew of measures in this regard.

The highlight of the event was an enthralling cultural programme organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations in collaboration with the JK Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Education and Youth Services Department.

The national flag was hoisted at all the district headquarters and district magistrates and other constitutional heads took salute at the march past present by the contingents of the CRPF, J&K Police, and students.

Colourful cultural programmes were presented by students in district and tehsil headquarters in militancy-hit south Kashmir.

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