Jammu, May 20: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said peace is the fundamental prerequisite for development and credited the Jammu and Kashmir Police for maintaining a secure environment that enabled significant progress in the Union Territory over the past six years.

Calling for enhanced efficiency and professionalism, the Lieutenant Governor said terrorism survives on funding, networks, and support systems, which must be identified and dismantled systematically.

“Until peace is established, the dream of development cannot be fulfilled. In any part of the world where peace does not prevail, development is not possible,” he said while addressing a gathering after distributing appointment letters to 100 newly recruited constables.

Sinha said the development witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir over the past six years was the result of the efforts of successive administrations and the people, but added that the Jammu and Kashmir Police also deserved credit for maintaining peace and creating an environment conducive to development.

He said the police force has worked with a spirit of selfless service, collective welfare, and constructive public engagement despite operating in a challenging security environment.

“The force remains on the frontline in dealing with threats of terrorism emanating from across the border,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said security threats have evolved significantly, with terrorism now taking new and more complex forms, requiring constant vigilance and alertness from security forces.

“Today, terrorists no longer come only with visible weapons, nor do they always appear in forms that can be easily identified. The nature of terrorism is changing and demands a new kind of alertness and constant vigilance,” he said.

He urged police personnel to remain continuously alert and cautious to ensure national security.

Sinha said officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Police have distinguished themselves through courage, commitment, and teamwork, and have carved a respected place in the history of the Union Territory as well as the nation.

“Whenever you wear the uniform of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, remember that you are carrying forward a glorious legacy and contributing to a continuing tradition of service and protection,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of inter-agency coordination, timely sharing of information and collective action in tackling modern-day security challenges.

Calling for strict enforcement of law, Sinha said criminal activities, including illegal encroachments on public land, must be eliminated to bring transformative change in society.

He highlighted the role of police in community engagement, youth development, and civic education, saying the force has helped channelise the energy of young people towards constructive activities.

Paying tribute to police personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty, he expressed deep respect for their families and said their courage continues to inspire the force.

He said appointment orders had been issued to 100 constables across various wings of the police.

The Lieutenant Governor further said around 3,158 candidates have been appointed under the new recruitment drive of the Jammu and Kashmir Police in Srinagar, while details of 3,140 appointments were available. He said the recruitment process was conducted with complete transparency and on the basis of merit.

Sinha reiterated that discipline, teamwork, and professionalism remain central to policing and urged the force to continue upholding the highest standards of courage and duty.

Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Budhal, Javed Iqbal Choudhary, along with MLA Thanamandi Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, visited the Sidhra-Raika Bandi area in Jammu to express solidarity with the tribal families rendered homeless following Tuesday’s demolition drive carried out by the administration.

The legislators, in an official statement, described the condition of the affected families — including women, children, infants and elderly persons — as “deeply heartbreaking.”

“The sequence of events strongly suggests that the ruthless demolition operation, conducted in scorching heat without regard for basic human dignity, was carried out under the influence of a BJP-backed lobby,” they said.

They further stated that such actions had raised serious concerns among the people regarding the misuse of authority and politically motivated targeting of vulnerable communities.

MLA Javed Iqbal Choudhary appealed to the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir to order an immediate and impartial investigation into the matter and ensure that government officers do not act under political pressure or indulge in populist agendas.

He said his preliminary assessment of available records and statements indicated that there was no encroachment on forest land and that the action appeared to be politically motivated.

He further stated that if the investigation confirms these findings, the officers responsible for the alleged injustice must face exemplary punishment.

Javed Iqbal Choudhary emphasised that, irrespective of political affiliations, all sections of society must unite against the “bulldozer mindset,” which he said was against the rule of law and democratic values.

He asserted that such actions should never be allowed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reaffirming his commitment to protecting people’s rights and dignity, Javed Iqbal Choudhary said no effort would be spared in seeking justice for the affected families and that every possible democratic and constitutional avenue, including approaching the Prime Minister, would be explored.

Srinagar, May 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a fact-finding committee to inquire into alleged violations of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, in connection with the demolition of houses belonging to tribal families in the Raika Bandi area of Sidhra, Jammu on Tuesday.

According to a government order issued by the Department of Tribal Affairs, sanction has been accorded for the constitution of a two-member committee to investigate the matter and submit its report within seven days.

The committee comprises Director Tribal Affairs, J&K, Mohammad Mumtaz Ali, JKAS, and Assistant Director, Directorate of Tribal Affairs, Muzamil Hassan Choudhary, JKAS.

The order states that the committee will examine “any violations of Forest Rights Act, 2006, in respect of recent demolition of houses of Tribal families in Raika Bandi (Sidhra) Jammu.”

The move comes amid widespread criticism and protests following the anti-encroachment drive carried out by officials of the Forest Department, Revenue Department and Police, during which several structures were demolished.

The demolition drive had triggered outrage among members of the Gujjar-Bakarwal community and political leaders, with allegations that the action was conducted without prior notice and in violation of tribal rights.

The order has been issued by the Department of Tribal Affairs under the directions of the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

Jammu, May 20: Security forces on Wednesday recovered a suspected drone-dropped packet containing suspected narcotics from the border belt of Jammu district, official sources said.

The packet was recovered from Bahadurpur Panchayat in the Bishnah area after a local resident spotted it while tilling his field, they said.

On receiving information, teams of the Border Security Force (BSF) and police rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area, they said.

The packet was seized and a forensic science laboratory (FSL) team was called to examine its contents, they said, adding the recovered material is suspected to be heroin.

Further details are awaited.