Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 14: An alert has been sounded across Kashmir ahead of Independence Day celebrations in the Valley following a series of attacks in South Kashmir in which 4 persons including three police men were killed and 9 security men were injured this week.
Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel deployed on the roads have set up barricades and check point at various places to check vehicles and frisk pedestrians in Srinagar and other major towns of Kashmir.
Security around the Bakhshi Stadium, the main venue of I-D parade, has been intensified and major roads around it have been closed for traffic.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is scheduled to unfurl national flag at the stadium tomorrow morning and take salute at march past.
A multi-tier security system has been put in place in and around the stadium. The policemen equipped with metal detectors and accompanied by sniffer dogs were seen checking vehicles for explosives.
Sharp shooters have been deployed at positions around the stadium and also at some high rise buildings near the venue.
Security agencies are closely monitoring the Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVCs) in Srinagar city to monitor the movement of suspicious people.
Additional CRPF personnel have been deployed in across the Valley to maintain law and order. Separatists have called for a shutdown as well as boycott of I-day functions and police and CRPF are deployed in strength at sensitive places.
Authorities jam mobile services and snap internet services during the function to prevent militants from using cell phones to detonate bombs.
Yesterday, militants attacked a police vehicle, killing two policemen and a bystander in Galender area of Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. A day before, militants ambushed a convoy of Border Security Force in the area and wounded eight personnel. They also killed a police man in Pulwama in a separate attack.
In the meantime, Police and army recovered arms and ammunition from Batagund in Handwara area of Kupwara district this morning after they had laid an ambush in the area.
Police said that based on input about movement of arms and ammunition to Handwara prior to Independence Day, multiple ambushes were laid at several places in the area.
Police said that at around 3: 30 a. m. the ambush at Batgund noticed a suspicious movement and on being challenged a person ran back towards village Batgund.
The troops fired few rounds in air, however, the suspect jumped into vegetation and could not be traced.
The area was cordoned off by 30 RR of army and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Kalamabad and during searches arms and ammunition was recovered from a bag which he left behind.
These include five Pistol 7.62 mm Chinese make, 11 pistol magazines, 80 rounds pistol ammunition, torch, cigarettes and a sleeper.
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