Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Sept 5: Security in Srinagar has been put on high alert ahead of music maestro Zubin Mehta’s arrival in Srinagar tomorrow for the concert in Shalimar Garden on the bank of Dal lake on Saturday.
Sources said that the State Government is not allowing the rival concert of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (CCS) in Srinagar following security and political concerns.
A Government spokesman told Excelsior that district administration has raised several queries in response to the application sent by the CCS to seek permission for holding a rival concert, Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir, in protest to Mehta’s Ehsaas-e-Kashmir, in Sher-e-Kashmir Park near city Centre Lal Chowk.
The letter sent by the district administration has asked questions about timing of the event, sequence of the event, time duration of the event, guest list and transportation arrangements made for the guests and the audience. But, a member of the CCS, Khuram Perwaiz said that they have not received any communication form the district administration so far.
The spokesman said that after the CCS replies to the queries of the district administration, the final decision about the permission to the rival concert will be taken jointly by them and the security agencies.
However, sources said that the Government will not give permission for holding of the rival concert due to security and political concerns.
Ahead of Mehta’s arrival in Srinagar tomorrow, security in Srinagar has been put on high alert. Police and para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed across sensitive places in Srinagar city and check points were erected to conduct surprise security checks of the vehicle entering Srinagar.
At City Centre Lal Chowk, Police and CRPF conducted surprise cordon and search operation this afternoon. The passing vehicles were checked and passersby frisked. This was done to prevent any possible disturbance on the eve of the concert when foreign diplomats, central ministers and bureaucrats are arriving in Srinagar to attend the concert.
The road from Srinagar International Airport to Shalimar Garden is being sanitised and security forces are guarding both the sides of the road to prevent any sabotage.
The Shalimar Garden has been sealed off and no one is being allowed to enter the garden. The security forces are conducting searches in and around the garden for any explosives and sabotage.
Sniffer dogs and metal detectors are being used to scan the entire area around the Garden to prevent any sabotage.
The Boulevard and Foreshore road, which lead to the concert’s venue at Srinagar’s Mughal-era Shalimar Bagh will have no traffic movement on Saturday.
All vehicles except those of visiting dignitaries shall be diverted. No vehicle will be allowed at Grand Lalit-Boulevard road towards SKICC.
In the meantime, Jnanpith Awardee Kashmiri poet and writer, Rahman Rahi and well known humorist, Zareef Ahmed Zareef, have refused to attend the concert.
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