J&K residents will guard tourists like soldiers: Minister Javed Ahmed Rana
Jammu: In the aftermath of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet Minister Javed Ahmed Rana has issued a strong statement condemning the violence and assuring the safety of tourists visiting the region.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Rana described the attack as an unspeakable tragedy. "The Pahalgam attack cannot be described in words. No amount of condemnation is enough. This tragedy occurred in our own home. When something like this happens in your house, the pain is unforgettable for generations," he told IANS.
Rana emphasized that the Jammu and Kashmir government stands united with the Central government in ensuring law and order in the region. "The people of the state are fully committed to maintaining peace and security," he added.
Highlighting the unity shown by political parties, Rana noted that, "For the first time, political parties across the region have come together, taking to the streets to express their outrage. We appeal to the nation to remember how the people of Jammu and Kashmir displayed humanity by rushing to help the injured tourists without hesitation. We commend their bravery."
Extending an invitation to visitors, Rana said, "I appeal to all fellow citizens: if you wish to visit Jammu and Kashmir, please come. Our people have always stood like soldiers to protect our guests, and we will continue to do so."
The statement comes in the wake of the brutal attack on April 22, when heavily armed terrorists opened fire on a group of unarmed tourists in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam. The assault left at least 26 people dead and several others critically injured, sparking nationwide outrage and demands for stern action against the perpetrators.
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Two injuries, one DNF, a DQ as India end messy World Relays campaign
Gaborone (Botswana) (PTI): Amoj Jacob and Ragul Kumar got injured during the men's 4x400m and 4x100 races respectively as India ended their World Athletics Relays campaign in disappointment on the second day of competitions here on Sunday.
The Indian camp had high hopes of making the 2027 World Championships in the men's 4x400m relay but the team did not finish (DNF) the race as Jacob suffered cramps and pulled out of the race after taking the baton from the first leg runner Dharamveer Choudhary. Rajesh Ramesh and Vishal TK were to run in the third and fourth legs.
Those teams which could not qualify for the 2027 Beijing World Championships by reaching the final round of each of the six relay events on Saturday were given another chance in the second qualification round on Sunday.
The top two teams in each of the two heats (in all six relay events) booked the Beijing ticket on Sunday.
India will now have to try and qualify for the World Championships through the Top Lists of the World Athletics, which is a long and tedious process.
In the men's 4x100m race, third leg runner Ragul Kumar fell down the track after failing to hand over the baton inside the exchange zone to fourth leg runner Gurindervir Singh, which clearly showed the lack of coordination among the runners.
Harsh Santosh Raut and Animesh Kujur ran the first two legs.
The Indian quartet was disqualified and Kumar was seen being taken away from the Field of Play with the help of the volunteers.
It was a comedy of errors in the case of the women's 4x100m race, which saw the baton being dropped during an exchange between first leg runner Tamanna and second runner Nithya Gandhe, though the Indians finished the race in 53.09 seconds.
Gandhe started running quite a distance, but after realising that the baton was not in her hand, she turned and ran back to pick it up.
The only silver-lining for the Indian contingent was the national record time in the mixed 4x100m relay race, though the quartet of Ragul Kumar, Nithya Gandhe, Animesh Kujur and Sneha SS finished sixth in heat number two with a time of 41.35 seconds, bettering the previous national mark of 42.30 seconds set in March in Chandigarh.
The mixed 4x400m relay quartet of Theerthesh P Shetty, Kumari Saloni, Nihal William and Rashdeep Kaur ended at fifth in heat number one with a time of 3 minutes and 19.40 seconds.
On Saturday, all the five Indian relay teams had failed to make it to the respective final rounds and thus missed out on the 2027 World Championships berths.
