Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Aug 10: Ahead of the Independence- Day celebrations on 15 August, security has been beefed up across Jammu and Kashmir Union territory.
Reports said that checkpoints have been erected in many places in Srinagar and frisking has been intensified. Police are seen at many places stopping and checking the vehicles.
The main function will be held in Srinagar where Lieutenant Governor Manooj Sinha will address and take the salute.
The functions will also be held in all the district headquarters across the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Since 2017, the government has been celebrating January 26 and August 15 celebrations at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium Sonwar instead of the traditional venue at Bakshi Stadium, where the repairing works are going on.
An official at DC Srinagar office said that councillors, Panches, Sarpanches and chairperson of block development councils would be invited from Srinagar to attend celebrations at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium Srinagar while others would attend in their respective districts. “These all fall in the VIP category,” the official said.
Sources said that district development commissioner Srinagar has been directed to prepare a list of invitees.
“Invitees shall include VVIP and VIPs including chairperson BDCs, Panches, Sarpanches and councilors,” sources said.
Police and security agencies have been directed to ensure adequate and fool proof security arrangements in and around the venue.
“An extensive plan shall be prepared by the police department encompassing vital areas, movements and entries. Firm barricades should be erected in and around the venue taking into consideration the security concerns,” the authorities have said.
A senior official said that security would be strengthened in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, Rajbagh, Dalgate and Sonawar areas. “The security agencies have been directed to take extra measures,” the official said.
The SSP security has been directed to ensure arrangement of bullet proof kiosks for VIPs along with dais.
Sources said that 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 anti-national elements at bay.
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 said that security has also been beefed up in north Kashmir areas of Sopore, Kupwara, Baramulla Bandipora and Handwara.
Pulwama, Shopian, Islamabad (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.
Sources said that the police and other agencies were also busy making additional deployment in the areas along the international border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC).
In border belts, senior police officers have visited the sensitive areas personally to review the border security management, and called for effective liaison among various security agencies.
Senior police officials also convened meetings to review the security measures to be taken in the run up to August 15, and to take stock of the progress of other allied arrangements in view of the prevailing security concerns in the region.
“All the checkposts along the border roads, national highway and other interior highways will be put on high alert round the clock,” said the official.
Meanwhile, the UT administration is likely to make it mandatory for all officers above the rank of Under Secretaries stationed at Srinagar and Jammu to attend the main I-day functions at the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, Sonawar, and Parade Ground, Jammu, respectively, as part of their official duty. (KINS)
