SRINAGAR : Unprecedented security measures are in place to foil any attempt by militants to disrupt Zubin Mehta’s ‘Concert for Kashmir’ being held at Shalimar garden on the bank of world famous Dal Lake this evening.
The concert is organised by Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
However, the common Kashmiri and tourists can watch the concert on television sets only as the show is being telecast live in about 120 countries, including all channels of Doordarshan.
Only those invited by the German Embassy besides students of some selected schools can watch the concert in the garden, where all preparations have been completed.
“We have deployed 12 companies in and around the venue for the past three days, a senior Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),” officer said.
He said more than 25 nakas have been established on roads leading to Shalimar to foil any attempt by militants to sneak into the area.
Sharp shooters continued round the clock vigil in and around the Shalimar, where Zubin Mehta alongwith his 100 musicians will perform from 1700 hrs this evening.
The garden remained closed for civilian and tourists and nobody, including mediapersons, were being allowed to enter the garden for the past three days.
Official sources said helicopters would also be pressed into service to maintain vigil in the concert area, including nearby hills as militant organisations have issued threats to disturb the concert.
Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and Muslim ulemas, including Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Bashir Uddin have opposed the concert.
To counter the concert, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil
Society (JKCCS) is holding a parallel concert ‘ Haqeeqat- e-Kashmir’ in a local park today.
A large number of sharp shooters, holding automatic weapons are keeping a close watch with the help of binoculars from nearby hills.
The garden remained out of bounds for common people and tourists for the past four days.
Security forces conducted fresh searches in the houses and other buildings near the Shalimar garden and adjoining areas.
The security personnel also occupied upper portion of buildings and houses adjacent to the concert venue to keep a close watch.
Foot and night patrolling had also been intensified in the area in the five km range from the Shalimar garden to foil any militant attempt to fire rockets or grenades during concert.
Security had also been intensified in the Dal Lake, where personnel, holding guns in their hands, could be seen in motorboats and shikaras patrolling in the water body.
A number of trained sniffer dogs and members of Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) and other experts conducted fresh searches of entire garden to make sure that the venue is totally safe for the concert.
Additional nakas have been established at different places in the city, including civil lines.
Random checking of vehicles, though very less in number, and frisking of those travelling in these vehicles beside pedestrian continued at different places in the city, including Stadium crossing, Jehangir Chowk, Budshah Chowk and Regal chowk.
Motorcyclists and scooterists were being frisked and their identity cards checked properly before allowing them to go. (AGENCIES)
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