Srinagar, June 15: Amid claps and music played by the police band, the north City cops Wednesday felicitated the government top brass including the Director General of Police Kuldeep Khuda to meet Shahr-e-Khaas locals at Nowhatta with the former resolving for a “prosperous future of the youth.”
 The DGP, a Shahr-e-Khaas native, hailed the old City adding that the “youth of this place have every right to progress and become a part of the global community.”
 He was speaking at the inauguration of a Youth Club by MoS Home Nasir Sogami and his colleague. The Club has been established by J&K Police under its Civic Action Programme for youth of Shahr-e-Khaas.
 Khoda said the main objective of establishing such clubs was to “bring in closer interface between police and public.” He said such clubs will be set up in more areas of the Valley.
 Earlier in his address, the MOS Home said these youth clubs would provide a “congenial atmosphere for physical as well as mental development of our youngsters.”
 He asked senior citizens to identify the areas where these clubs could be set up and assured that the government would provide every support in this endeavour.
 He said there was also a need of opening fully equipped recreational centres which would include facilities for swimming and others sports like squash and lawn tennis.
 Sogami said the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, was keen to provide state-of-the-art sports facilities to youth for which Multi-Facility Sports Centre, Gindun, is being set up at a cost of Rs 19 crore at Rajbagh.
 “Gindun will have sports facilities in many disciplines including swimming, squash, gymnastics and football,” the Minister said, adding it would be equipped with world-class infrastructure for training youth in various sporting disciplines so that they compete at national and international level.
 The Minister asserted that such facilities should have a experienced trainers or else “it will be all waste.”
 He, however, suggested that the name of Youth Club at Nowhatta be replaced by Youth Recreation Centre to “widen its scope.”
 “Especially in this area we need to develop such centres where you’ll have facilities of internet, books, and guidance,” he added.
  “Such clubs will at least facilitate an interaction between police and public and it’ll ultimately improve the relationship between the two.” 
 In his address SP North, Shoket Hussain, the host, threw light on the contribution of Shahr-e-Khaas saying Valley’s first Chief Engineer, Town Planner and famed medico Dr Ali Jan were the old City natives.
  “In a significant development this year five Shahr-e-Khaas youth including two girls have qualified the KAS exams,” he informed.
 Later talking to Greater Kashmir on the sidelines of the event, the SP said youth were developing interest in career prospects than “other activities.”
 Asked how would he compare the day with tumultuous June last year, he said: “Last year on the day it was Kani Jung… But now there’s a sea change. We are heading towards the beginning of a new horizon.”
 The Mohalla President, Ghulam Hassan Makhdoomi his address said the Youth Club would “help people to divest their energy in right direction.”
 Others present on the occasion include Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Inspector General of Police, Shiv Morari Sahai, DIG CKR,  AG Mir, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar,   Meraj Ahmed Kakroo, SSP, Srinagar, Syed Ashaq Bhukhari, SP West Dr Sunil Gupta and SP Hazratbal Abdul Wahid.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST