JK: High alert as militants step up violence

Srinagar, Jan 24: A day after three CRPF personnel were killed andseveral others wounded in stepped up violence across Kashmir ahead ofthe Republic Day, security has been further enhanced in Srinagar andother parts of the Valley.

The Muzaffarabad-based United Jehad Council, an amalgam of severalmilitant outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir, the Hizbul Mujahideen,both groups of the Hurriyat Conference, rival factions of the Jammu andKashmir Liberation Front and other separatist groups have called for ageneral strike on Republic Day.

The Save Kashmir Movement, a militant outfit, has asked the peopleand the students to stay away from Republic Day celebrations.

Government employees and other officials should also remain awayfrom the celebrations on January 26, it said in a statement to thelocal media here recently.

The outfit also asked the state Cultural Academy and other organisations not to send students to the Republic Day functions.

In stepped up violence across Kashmir, militants triggered apowerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Panzgam village nearAwantipora in Pulwama district in which three CRPF personnel werekilled and many others critically wounded yesterday.

Militants also hurled a hand grenade toward a BSF patrol atBandipora in Baramulla district yesterday in which two personnelsustained serious injuries.

To thwart attempts by militants to create further disturbancesahead of the Republic Day, security across Kashmir has been upgraded tothe maximum levels.

CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi said as many as ten companies ofthe force have been released for enhancing security in both Jammu andSrinagar for the Republic Day. Out of these, eight companies would bedeployed in Srinagar and two in Jammu, he added.

Mr Tripathi said the personnel of these companies were undergoingtraining and have been released for the purpose. They would return totheir training camps after the Republic Day was over, he added.

The spokesman said the CRPF personnel have been put on high alert tofoil any attempt by militants to cause large-scale violence in Srinagarand other parts of Kashmir ahead of the Republic Day. Besides,round-the-clock patrolling and increased frisking and checking, theCRPF has also enhanced its area domination, he added. Mr Tripathi saidthe CRPF personnel have been conducting surprise checks and set upadditional check posts and barricades across the Srinagar city. Aspecial 'Mahila' contingent has been pressed into service for friskingand checking of women, he added.

Security personnel have been spread far and wide in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir valley.

Armed with snipers and electronic surveillance gadgets, securityforces have erected barricades and drop gates and also blocked allentry and exit points in the city, particularly in downtown areas, tocheck possible movement of militants.

Surveillance cameras have been installed at various places in thecity to maintain a constant vigil over sensitive spots and suspiciouspersons. Sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service to detecthidden explosive devices.

Security forces were carrying out thorough frisking, checks and screening of vehicles at various points in the summer capital.

Barricades have been erected around the Bakshi Stadium and nearbyareas extensively searched to foil any attempt by ultras to disrupt themain function in the Valley.

Snipers with electronic surveillance gadgets have been positionedon rooftops of buildings to maintain a vigil in the area around theBakshi Stadium.

Militants, in the past, have fired several rocket-propelled grenades toward the stadium from nearby high-rise buildings.

Security forces have also intensified search of stolen vehicles inthe city and other parts of the Valley in order to contain car bombexplosions and suicide attacks ahead of the Republic Day.

UNI
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