Yet another search operation disrupts life in Srinagar

Srinagar, Dec 19 (UNI) Life in the civil lines, the nerve centre of the city, was disrupted yet again when security forces sealed the area and conducted search operation this afternoon.

As the business and other activities were going on, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), deployed in the civil lines, sealed the area from Court road to Hanuman Mandir, including the busy Amira Kadal bridge.

The CRPF personnel later directed all those present in the area to stand in a queue. However, they were later allowed to move out from the cordoned off area after they were thoroughly frisked and their identity cards checked.

The shopkeepers too had to go through similar frisking.

However, it was tough for the students who had to reach their examination centres.

Students, including girls, were seen requesting security forces to allow them to cross the Amira Kadal bridge since they were getting late for their examinations. However, they were directed to use the Badshah bridge, a longer distance.

The shopkeepers alleged that almost daily search operations in the civil lines had affected their business, which is already down after the authorities changed the city bus routes. It cripples life in the commercial area, they said.

People, who had come from different parts of the valley for shopping, were also seen pleading to security forces to allow them to go so that they could catch the last bus to their village.

However, the officials, justifying the random search operations, said militants in the past attacked security forces in the area.

About half a dozen security force and police personnel were killed by the militants in the area in October this year.

UNI BAS SB VV1648