TANGDHAR, MAY 14: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has urged people across the country to visit Kashmir and pay homage at the memorial dedicated to fallen soldiers.
He said this after inaugurating the ‘Shaurya Gatha’ Complex at SM Hill in Tangdhar, Karnah in Kupwara District. The complex has been developed as part of efforts to showcase military heritage in the border region and to create tourism-linked economic opportunities.
In his address, the LG said the Shaurya Complex, built in honour of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice along the Line of Control, is not just a heritage site but a “living symbol of courage, valour, and sacrifice.”
He said the memorial carries a message of remembrance from the entire nation, adding, “We always remember our brave soldiers and will continue to remember them forever.”
Referring to the Tangdhar region, Sinha said the mountains stand as silent witnesses to the sacrifices of the Indian Army. “These hills have felt the spirit of sacrifice for India’s tricolour. They have seen the unmatched courage of our soldiers,” he said.
He also spoke about the dedication of soldiers posted in difficult border areas, saying they served the nation selflessly, without expectation. “They never asked what the nation was doing for them. They simply fulfilled their duty, shed their blood, and many never returned home,” he added.
The LG credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching several initiatives to preserve the memory of soldiers, including the ‘Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan’ initiative under which the Complex has been developed.
“Whether a young person comes here from Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, or Kerala, when they stand on this soil and witness this land, the feelings of patriotism, dedication, and valour awakened within them cannot be found in any book,” he said.
The LG said the Complex would not only “redefine the image of the region” but also “strengthen the local economy”, pointing to the area’s “rich traditions and immense natural beauty”.
He also flagged Tangdhar as a “sensitive area from where the enemy attempts to promote the narcotics trade”, and thanked the Army for developing “airport-like facilities” to help curb the trade. “Our vigilance must remain so strong that no kind of drug trafficking takes place from here under any circumstances,” he told police officers.
The LG further added with an appeal for “the bright future of our children. He also accused Pakistan of persistently attempting to push narcotics into India through the Tangdhar sector, while leaving the people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) to suffer from decades of neglect and misgovernance.
LG Sinha, on the occasion, said the stark contrast between the two sides of the Line of Control could not be ignored.
“Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an era of peace, progress and prosperity. PoJK, on the other hand, continues to suffer from neglect and misgovernance. Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will always remain an integral part of India,” the Lt Governor said.
He said Tangdhar remains a strategic location where the neighbouring country persistently attempts to escalate narco-smuggling activities. The Army has developed an airport-like facility in the region to strengthen the ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir’ campaign, he added.
“Our surveillance must be fool proof to ensure that no illegal drugs enter our territory,” LG Sinha said, calling upon police and security forces to maintain the highest level of alertness.
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