Police martyrs memorial football tournament in Kashmir from Aug 20

Srinagar, Aug 8 (UNI) The fortnight long 10th All India Police Martyrs' Memorial Football Tournament-2007 would be held at Bakshi Stadium here from August 20.

As many as 33 soccer teams from different clubs of the country will participate in the event being hosted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police under the auspices of Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA).

Arrangements for holding the tournament in a befitting manner were discussed at a high-level meeting held here recently under the chairmanship of Inspector General of Police Armed Sheikh Owais Ahmed.

Railway Protection Force (RPF), Border Security Force XI (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) XI, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) XI and Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala (RCF) were among the teams which are participating in the tournament.

Mr Owais said that Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda, who has always shown keen interest in promoting sports activities in the state has directed to hold the tournament in a healthy atmosphere and provide all necessary facilities to the footballers and lovers of the game.

He said the tournament was initiated in 1998 in the memory of Inspector Mushtaq Ahmed Baba of Jammu and Kashmir Police who laid down his life while performing duty.

The tournament was renamed in 2004 as Jammu and Kashmir Police Martyrs' Memorial Football Tournament to pay tribute to the more than 1400 martyrs of Jammu and Kashmir Police who have made supreme sacrifice during last 18 years protecting the life and property of people.

He said such events help to recall the sacrifices made by the force personnel while discharging their professional duty.

UNI