Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Aug 13: Ahead of the Independence Day, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have beefed up security arrangements in order to ensure peaceful celebrations.
The Independence Day main function in Srinagar will be held at the Sheri Kashmir Cricket Stadium where tight security arrangements have been put in place. “We have reviewed the security situation. August 15 will be celebrated with great fervor. All arrangements have been made and its details can’t be shared,” news agency KINS quoted an official as having said.
Sources said that a massive security blanket has been thrown around Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium to sanitize the venue.
Additional forces have been deployed to ensure foolproof security of the venue. Technology too will be used to keep a tight vigil in and around the venue.
Police said that security across the Valley too has been beefed up with police and security forces setting up additional nakas at different places to keep militants and other elements at bay.
A police official said a huge number of security men have been deployed at various important functional areas in the other districts including the Jammu region. “The venues have also been sealed” the official added.
Sources said that Police, paramilitary forces have intensified patrolling. Vehicle checking has also been intensified and pedestrians are being frisked. People are also being asked for their identity cards.
Sources said that senior police officers have been assigned the job of monitoring the suspicious movement in the city.
“Sharp shooters on the top of various buildings in different areas around the stadium will be put in place for security reasons to stop any untoward incident,” sources said.
Meanwhile police officials told KINS that security has also been beefed up in north Kashmir areas of Sopore, Kupwara, Baramulla Bandipora and Handwara.
Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam districts of south Kashmir also witnessed tight security.
The security measures to thwart any designs of militants to create trouble on two major events of national importance Independence Day and Republic Day have remained the top concern of the police forces and other security agencies ever since the eruption of the armed militancy in 1989-90 in the state.
In Srinagar policemen joined by CRPF troopers had erected almost various points to carry out the search of the people and the vehicles.
Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Jehangir Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Maisuma, Dalgate and other areas of Srinagar to thwart any untoward incident. Armored vehicles of police and paramilitary forces were seen at many road junctions.