Security alert in Srinagar after militant movement

Fayaz Bukhari

Srinagar, Dec 13: Security in Srinagar was put on alert today after security forces got inputs about the movement of armed militants in Srinagar.
Police and para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) conducted surprise checks of vehicles at several places in Srinagar city especially in Jehangir Chowk and Lal Chowk areas after they received information about the movement of militants in a car in Civil Line area of Srinagar.
Police and CRPF searched vehicles at Chanpora, Natipora, Hyderpora, Rajbagh and several other areas besides Lal Chowk and Jehangir Chowk. Security forces were mostly checking private cars and motorcycles but no one was detained during these searches.
After the attack at Nowgam Bypass area of Srinagar in which one CRPF officer was killed and a constable injured on December 11, security forces are not taking any chances. The militants who targeted CRPF had reportedly come in a car and also fled in the same car after carrying out the attack.
And of late, security forces are getting information about movement of militants in Srinagar city mostly using private cars. But due to tight vigil by the security forces militants are not able to carry out any major strike in the city.
In the meantime, sources said that security forces also received information about the movement of a teenage Fidayee, Mehmood Bhai alias Abdullah alias Abu Hurraira in Srinagar city yesterday. “But he is believed to have moved out of the city”, sources added.
Mehmood Bhai gave slip to security forces four times during past two months. He first slipped from security cordon on October 2 in Ahmad Nagar area of Srinagar injuring eight Police men including a Sub-Inspector of Jammu and Kashmir Police. He again gave slip to the security forces in Ahmad Nagar, a month later and fled to Sopore where he again gave slip to the security forces. And early this month he again gave slip the security forces in Hajin area of Bandipora.
Mehmood Bhai had infiltrated in summer this year and had come to Srinagar in October to carry out an attack but security forces foiled his attempt.
Sources said that the militants are using Anantnag-Srinagar and Baramulla-Srinagar National Highway frequently and have intensified their vigil on the highway.
After this week’s attack at Nowgam and December 2 attack at Chadoora in district Budgam, security forces don’t want to take any chance. It may be mentioned here that on December 2, militants killed Station House Officer (SHO) of Police Station Chadoora, Budgam in an attack in which three persons including two police men were also injured. One of the injured, the shopkeeper, succumbed to injuries later in SKIMS hospital early this week.