Forces on high alert in JK for Independence Day

Srinagar, Aug 5: Security forces across the Kashmir valley have been put on maximum alert, following intelligence inputs about militant plans to trigger blasts on or before August 15, the Independence Day (ID).

Security forces and Jammu and Kashmir police have foiled a number of militant attempts to smuggle in arms and ammunition particularly hand grenades, into the city from different rural areas.

Sudden spurt in infiltration from across the border was another reason to remain alert, official sources said.

Official sources said a high level meeting was held at the Police Control Room (PCR) here to review the security arrangements for the ID, in view of the high degree of threat perception.

Top officers from different security agencies, engaged in counter insurgency in the valley, including Army, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Criminal CID and others participated in the meeting, under the chairmanship of Kashmir range police chief S M Sahai.

Sources said the meeting discussed in detail intelligence inputs, traffic, security and issues related to Independence Day.

The officers gave detailed presentation regarding security and traffic management.

They said the field commanders of different security force agencies in the valley, particularly in Srinagar, where the main function will be held, have been directed to remain extra vigilant to foil any militant plan to cause disturbance on or before the ID.

It has been decided to deploy more security forces at important places and vital installation in addition to security personnel has already been deployed there, sources said.

Militants in the nineties used to fire rockets and grenades towards the Bakshi stadium, the venue for the main ID and Republic Day (RD)state functions. However, during the past seven years, due to unprecedented security arrangements on ID and RD, when the entire city is turned into a security force camp with all routes leading to the venue closed for civilians, there had been hardly any such attack.

As there were still ten days left for ID, security forces in the city and outskirts have intensified patrolling, search operations and frisking of pedestrians.

This had yielded good results, as security forces and police arrested about six militant's, along with hand grenades, when the militants tried to sneak into the city from Sopore and other north Kashmir areas.

Security forces also recovered hand grenades from vehicles also coming from north Kashmir recently.

The arrested militants confessed that they were given the task to cause disturbance in the city.

The CRPF personnel, responsible for the security of the city, along with state police, are conducting random search operations in the civil lines, including Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, three to four tinmes everyday.

People were being frisked and their identity cards checked, before allowing them to leave the sealed area, sources said.

Vehicles entering the city from different district and tehsil headquarters were being properly searched to thwart any militant plan to smuggle in arms and ammunition.

UNI