JOIN USSecurity tightened for R-Day
Two days ahead of Republic Day, police and paramilitary personnel intensified searches and frisking in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley on Thursday.
In the run up to Republic Day, large contingents of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troops are conducting frisking and searches in Srinagar city for past one week.
They have also laid barricades in Civil Lines and downtown area of the city, where civilians and light vehicles are being thoroughly searched.
Vehicles entering city from other districts are being thoroughly searched at the entry points of the city. The paramilitary troopers have brought in sniffer dogs to carry out searches for explosives in and outside Bakshi Stadium- main venue for Republic Day function in Kashmir.
A top police official associated with security arrangements told Deccan Herald that three-tier security arrangements have been put in place for the main function.
He said sniffer dogs, close circuit television cameras (CCTVs), high-tech access control equipment and human surveillance is being employed for security of the area.
Movements monitored
“We are monitoring movement of everybody closely,” he said and added that policemen on ground have been asked not to harass the civilians.
The roads leading to the stadium are under strict vigil with barricades and concertina wires placed on the roads to restrict movement of people and vehicles.
Mobile bullet proofbunker vehicles were also parked in the middle of the road to pre-empt any attack.
Most of the separatist organisations have called for a complete shutdown on January 26.
Meanwhile, J&K director general of police (DGP), Ashok Prasad, took stock of security arrangements at a high level meeting of senior officers of police, para-military and civil administration on Thursday.
An official spokesperson said the DGP asked the officers to deploy sufficient manpower in and around the venues to ensure smooth conduct of celebration.