J&K Police organises 'winter camps' for youth in Srinagar

In a novel initiative, Jammu and Kashmir Police has started 'winter camps' in the state's summer capital Srinagar to provide a platform to the youth to showcase their hidden talent and hone their skills.
Around 1,500 youths, in the age group of 12 to 20 years, are participating in these camps which are being held in all police stations with concerned Station House Officers designated as coordinators, a police spokesman said today.
This is for the first time that the police department has organised winter camps for the youth of the city which frequently witness violent clashes between stone-pelting mobs and law enforcing agencies, especially after Friday prayers in and around Jamia Masjid area.

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, S J M Gillani yesterday visited some of the camps and highlighted the aims and objectives of this youth engagement.
"These camps are being organised simultaneously across Srinagar with an objective to provide platform to the youth to showcase their hidden talents and to provide an opportunity to them to polish their talent further," Gillani, who was accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Amit Kumar, said addressing one such camp at Sonawar.
He emphasized upon the participants to make best use of the opportunity.

"The training at these camps are being imparted by professionals by implying different techniques and brainstorming games. These camps have been organised with a view to promote sports culture and also to make the youth aware about traffic rules, banking, fire safety, besides holistic development of the positive attitudes of the youth.

Giving year-wise break-up, the Chief Minister said the
highest number of 22 camps and bunkers were removed in 2010 followed by 19 next year.
Fifteen such bunkers and camps were removed in 2012, 11 in 2009, eight in 2013, five in 2015, three in 2014 and one in 2016, she said.
Omar Abdullah-led government started the process of removal of bunkers from various parts of the Valley especially Srinagar to reduce the footprints of security forces - a recommendation of the all-party parliamentary delegation that visited the the state in September 2010 to take stock of the situation following the death of over 120 persons in street protests.

Mehbooba said while there was no security camp or bunker present in Ladakh region, no camp or bunker was removed from Budgam and Ganderbal districts till date.
Of the eight camps in Kulgam district, four were removed in 2009 and three in 2010, the Chief Minister said.
Mehbooba said only three camps or bunkers were removed in the last year of National Conference led government in 2014.
After the formation of PDP-led government, five camps or bunkers were removed - two from Srinagar and one each in Awantipora township of Pulwama, Kupwara and Sopore township of Baramulla district in 2015, she said.

In 2011, a total of 19 camps or bunkers were removed - 14 from Srinagar, two from Shopian and one each from Sopore, Awantipora and Kulgam, she said adding, 15 bunkers or camps were removed in 2012 which included 12 from Srinagar, two from Sopore and one from Pulwama.
Eight camps and bunkers were removed in 2013 - two each from Srinagar, Sopore and Shopian and one each in Kupwara and Bandipora districts, the Chief Minister said.
She said of the 11 bunkers or camps removed in 2009, Srinagar witnessed removal of five such structures followed by Kulgam (four) and Anantnag and Pulwama (one each).