Security intensified across country for Republic Day

New Delhi, Jan 25 (UNI) Security was tightened across the country today with police and paramilitary personnel taking positions at strategic points and key locations to ward off untoward incidents during the 58th Republic Day celebrations tomorrow.

In Jammu and Kashmir, a massive security blanket was thrown in the entire Kashmir valley, particularly the Srinagar city, while sharpshooters have taken positions all around the Bakshi Stadium, the main venue of the Republic Day function here.

Barricades have been erected around the stadium and nearby areas extensively searched to foil any attempt by militants to create large-scale disturbances in the Kashmir valley ahead of the Republic Day.

Snipers with electronic surveillance gadgets have been positioned on rooftops of buildings to maintain a strict vigil over the area around the Bakshi stadium.

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

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 tomorrow.

In Jammu, security in the city has been put on ''high alert'' to ensure peaceful celebrations at the Maulana Azad Stadium where Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha will tomorrow unfurl the tricolour.

The state police and para-military personnel have been deployed at all the strategic positions around the m a stadium.

In Asom, a tight security net has been cast in the state following Republic Day boycott calls by militant outfits.

Four militant outfits of the North East, including the ULFA, had called for boycott of the celebrations in line with its practice of warning against observation of any national day in the region for the past several years.

Police said security had been beefed up at all vital installations, busy areas and regular patrolling undertaken across the state. Police patrolling on a massive scale was seen in Guwahati since early this morning.

Night railway traffic has already been suspended since yesterday till January 27 to thwart any militant strike on passenger trains under the cover of darkness.

Security in the airports of the state, railway stations and bus depots had been tightened with sniffer dogs and metal detectors being employed by the security forces.

The area near the Judges' Field in Guwahati, the venue of the central celebration in the state, has been put under strict security vigil. The Field has been kept out of bounds for the common people for long.

The state has witnessed carnage by the ULFA since the beginning of the month with no sign of let up in violence. Over 80 people had lost their lives in violence triggered by the banned outfit against Hindi-speaking people on January five-six.

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