Security enhanced in Kashmir as militants step up violence

Srinagar, Jan 24 (UNI) A day after three CRPF personnel were killed and several others wounded in stepped up violence across Kashmir ahead of the Republic Day, security has been further enhanced in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley.

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

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

Government employees and other officials should also remain away from the celebrations on January 26, it said in a statement to the local 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 a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Panzgam village near Awantipora in Pulwama district in which three CRPF personnel were killed and many others critically wounded yesterday.

Militants also hurled a hand grenade toward a BSF patrol at Bandipora in Baramulla district yesterday in which two personnel sustained serious injuries.

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

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

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

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