Major search operation in Lal Chowk, hub of activities in Srinagar

Srinagar, Mar 24 (UNI) Business and other activities in the historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, came to a halt this afternoon when security forces sealed the entire area and conducted search operation.

People, including shopkeepers, their customers and pedestrians, were taken by surprise when Central Reserve Police Force and state police personnel sealed all exit points from Ganthaghar to Palladium chowk this afternoon.

Nobody, including women and students, was being allowed to leave by the security forces, who took just few minutes to seal the entire area.

Those present in the sealed area were directed to remain in queues before they were frisked properly and their identity cards checked.

Women and students too, had to get their bags checked by the security forces.

Traffic on the busy route was diverted to Badshah chowk.

However, when the frisking and search operation was completed, people were allowed to leave the sealed area.

Later, CRPF and police jointly conducted searches of all vehicles passing the Lal Chowk.

Passengers were directed to come down and their identity cards checked before they were being allowed to board the vehicles again.

Three-wheelers, scooters and motorcycles were also searched properly.

It was however, not immediately known if there was any intelligence input about possible plan by militants to carry out attack in the city.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) recently said frisking and search operation has helped to control attacks by the militants in the city for the past six months. However, a day later, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) triggered a mine at fly-over near here in which one person was killed and 16 others were wounded.

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