J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat honours martyrs, announces football and hockey tournaments at Pedal through Paradise
Synopsis
Over 3,000 cyclists rode through Srinagar under the J&K Police's Fit India banner — but the bigger announcement came off the saddle: DGP Nalin Prabhat used the closing ceremony to launch Martyrs Memorial football and hockey tournaments, framing sport as the force's sharpest tool against drug abuse, screen addiction, and social disengagement among J&K's youth.
Key Takeaways
DGP Nalin Prabhat addressed the closing ceremony of the 'Pedal through Paradise' cycle race in Srinagar on 29 October 2026 .
The race drew over 3,000 cyclists , with nearly 5,000 entries across categories including children, women, and participants above 45 years of age .
DGP Prabhat announced Martyrs Memorial football and hockey tournaments to honour fallen police personnel.
J&K Police is organising district-level sporting events to combat drug abuse, gambling, and excessive screen time among youth.
The cycle route ran from Police Golf Course (Lalit Ghat) on Boulevard Road through Harwan and Foreshore to Nagbal .
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Thursday, 29 October 2026, said the sacrifices of police martyrs continue to inspire the force to promote peace and channel youth energy into constructive activities, particularly sports. He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 'Pedal through Paradise' cycle race in Srinagar, organised by the J&K Police under the Fit India initiative.
A Race That Drew Thousands
The event attracted over 3,000 cyclists, with close to 5,000 entries received across multiple categories — including children, women, open participants, and individuals above 45 years of age. The route began at the Police Golf Course (Lalit Ghat) on Boulevard Road and stretched through Harwan, Foreshore, and up to Nagbal. Traffic diversions were put in place along the route to minimise disruption to commuters.
Tribute to Martyrs and New Tournaments Announced
Paying tribute to police personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty, DGP Prabhat announced the Martyrs Memorial football and hockey tournaments to honour their sacrifices. He described sporting activities as a vehicle for discipline, fitness, and community resilience. 'Sporting activities help promote discipline, fitness and a healthy lifestyle among young people. Cycling is not merely a symbol of fitness, but also helps instil discipline. Participation in sports could help address mobile phone addiction and excessive screen time,' the DGP said.
Youth, Social Evils and the Police Mandate
DGP Prabhat stressed that the youth are an asset and the future of the nation, and that channelling their participation in productive activities would contribute to national progress. He said the J&K Police, in coordination with the district administration, is actively organising sporting events across districts to widen youth participation. The police remain committed, he added, to helping society address social evils including drug abuse and gambling.
Recent Sporting Outreach by J&K Police
The DGP pointed to encouraging participation in the recent Kashmir Marathon and 'Jashn-e-Dal' as evidence of growing public engagement with police-led community events. This comes amid a broader push by the J&K Police to reshape its public image and build grassroots trust in the Union Territory, where normalcy indices have been closely tracked since the 2019 reorganisation. The 'Pedal through Paradise' event is part of a sustained calendar of outreach activities that now include upcoming football and hockey fixtures in memory of fallen officers.
What Comes Next
Several sporting events are scheduled in the coming weeks, anchored by the Martyrs Memorial football and hockey tournaments. Officials expect these fixtures to draw wide participation from schools and local clubs across Jammu and Kashmir, furthering the police's stated goal of engaging the region's youth through sport rather than letting them fall into addiction or radicalisation.
Point of View
Internal narrative. What is less clear is whether these events are sustained beyond the headline cycle or fade into a calendar of one-offs. The real measure of success will be whether district-level fixtures actually run on schedule and whether participation data — not just entry numbers — is made publicly available.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Pedal through Paradise' cycle race in Srinagar?
'Pedal through Paradise' is a cycle race organised by the J&K Police under the Fit India initiative to encourage fitness and healthy living. The 29 October 2026 edition drew over 3,000 cyclists across categories including children, women, open participants, and those above 45 years of age , starting from the Police Golf Course at Lalit Ghat on Boulevard Road and ending near Nagbal.
What tournaments did J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat announce?
DGP Nalin Prabhat announced the Martyrs Memorial football and hockey tournaments to honour J&K Police personnel who died in the line of duty. The tournaments are part of a broader calendar of upcoming sporting events aimed at encouraging youth participation across the Union Territory.
Why is J&K Police focusing on sports and youth outreach?
The J&K Police views sports as a tool to promote discipline and counter social problems including drug abuse , gambling , and excessive screen time among young people. DGP Prabhat stated that youth are the nation's future, and that channelling their energy into sports will contribute to broader social progress and stability in the region.
Which recent community events has J&K Police been involved in?
The J&K Police recently participated in the Kashmir Marathon and 'Jashn-e-Dal' , both of which, according to DGP Prabhat , saw encouraging public turnout. These form part of a sustained outreach effort at the district level, coordinated with the local administration.
How does this initiative relate to peace efforts in Jammu and Kashmir?
The J&K Police frames its martyrs-inspired sporting events as integral to its peace mission — using community engagement to build public trust and give youth constructive alternatives. DGP Prabhat said the sacrifices of police martyrs inspire the force to work with younger generations and help society address radicalisation and social evils.
