Security tightened up in Srinagar ahead of Independence Day

Srinagar, Aug 14: Security has been beefed up in the curfew-bound summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the Independence Day celebrations on Monday.

Security personnel have been deployed in large numbers across Srinagar as Bakshi Stadium, the venue of the Independence Day celebration event in the state, has been turned into a virtual fortress.

"All the roads leading to Bakshi stadium have been sealed and heavy deployment of security forces has been carried out enroute to ensure peaceful celebrations tomorrow," a police official said.

Although there were no inputs about the possibility of militant attacks to disrupt the celebrations, the security grid is not taking any chances, he said.

"The usual security drill is being followed but some extra measures have been put in place to ensure no mob violence takes place around the venues in Srinagar or elsewhere in the Valley," he added.

Due to the ongoing unrest in Kashmir that began on July 9 following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, mobile telephone and internet services have already been snapped.

In the past, the mobile phone and mobile internet services used to be disabled for few hours during the Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations as a precautionary measure to prevent militants from using these devices to trigger explosions.

PTI