Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Mar 23: Security in Srinagar was put on high alert today after recent attacks in Srinagar on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF) in which 6 security men were killed and 12 others including 4 civilians were injured.
Sources said that security forces had received inputs of militant movement in Srinagar’s Civil lines area and to counter it security was put on high alert across Srinagar city.
The heightened security, checking of vehicles and frisking of people across city caused panic among the residents and people restricted their movement.
Sources told Excelsior that security agencies had inputs about the presence of a group of four militants – Chota Hurrira, Abu Saad, Shoukat Ahmad of Lawaypora, Srinagar and Hilal Molvi of Palhalan- trying to carry out a strike in the Civil Lines area of Srinagar.
Hurrira and Saad are two Pakistani militants who came on security radar after Fidayeen attack on CRPF in Bemina on March 13 in which 5 CRPF men were killed and 10 others including 4 civilians were injured.
Security forces have been receiving inputs about the presence of these four militants in and around Srinagar city since March 13 attack in Bemina. Several operations were launched against them in North of Srinagar but they were not traced out.
“It is these militants who carried out attack on the Border Security Force party at Chanpora Bypass on March 20 in which one BSF man was killed and two were injured”, sources added.
Police and CRPF had erected checks points across Srinagar city to prevent the possible attack.
Security forces were checking all the vehicles entering Srinagar city especially mortar cycles. Inside Srinagar city, surprise vehicle checking and frisking of passengers was being conducted at several places.
Security forces were also heavily deployed around vital installations and security camps and at sensitive places of Srinagar which security agencies were apprehending could be the possible target of Fidayeen.
Police was closely monitoring the movement of suspicious people and vehicles on Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed across Srinagar city in Civil Lines areas.
According to sources for past two weeks there have been increased movements of militants across Kashmir and security forces have been receiving intercepts about possible militant strikes. “However, there is no specific target but the security forces are the possible targets”, sources added.
Sources said that the militants have no dearth of man power, weapons and money and predicted hot summer ahead. Security agencies termed the developments as a matter of concern.
Sources said that of late several militant modules have been activated across Kashmir and they are planning strikes. They said that these modules are working independently and are being handed by a Kashmiri handler. “In each module there are two Pakistanis with a Kashmir handler”, they added.
Of late the militants have stepped up their activities in Srinagar and North Kashmir. On March19, militants killed a youth in North Kashmir’s Sopore area who was allegedly working for security agencies.
Prior to this on March 8, a counter-insurgent was killed in Tangmarg area of North Kashmir and on March 2, two Indian Reserve Police (IRP) men were shot dead in Handwara town of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
And on March 13, militants carried out a major strike in Srinagar city killing 5 CRPF men and injuring 10 others, and on March 20 a BSF man was killed and two others injured in a militant strike.
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