Cufew like situation in Dal Lake area in Srinagar

Srinagar, July 29: Cufew like situation prevailed in the Boulvard and Dal Lake area where sharp shooters have been deployed for the past three days to thwart any militant attack during President A P J Abdul Kalam's two-day visit.

A security force jawan wearing bullet proof jackets and holding automatic weapon could be seen deployed after every ten feet on the Boulvard road, on the bank of famed Dal Lake.

Sharp shooters have taken position in and outside the Sher-e- Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) where Dr Kalam was to address the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today.

A UNI correspondent who visited the area on foot as vehicles were not allowed, saw security forces in water boats guarding in the interior of the Dal Lake.

Not a single shikara was on the Dal waters in the periphery of SKICC.

Entire road from Dalgate to SKICC from this side and Nishat to SKICC from the other sides wore a deserted took with only security forces guarding the streets.

Intelligence inputs had suggested that militants will try to strike during the visit, official sources said.

The administration has imposed a ban on plying of all vehicles on Boulevard and Gupkar roads.

No vehicles, including those of newspersons, was allowed to move beyond Dalgate where a large number of security force personnel had blocked the road. However, vehicles carrying valid passes were allowed to move towards SKICC after proper checking.

Road blocks have been put up and road fenced with barbed wire at some places at Boulevard Sources said that security forces are not relaxed even after the arrest of Pakistan based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) commander who mastermined the recent grenade attacks on tourists, fidayeen attack on Congress rally and other car bomb blasts in the valley.

Security forces could be seen patrolling interior of the Dal Lake, keeping a close watch on the houseboat and people living there.

UNI