Ahead of Republic Day, J&K police find huge cache of arms

 
Police also recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from Mamoosa in Baramulla district. Police claimed that the arms and ammunition were meant for carrying out the attacks. The recovery included 42 under-barrel grenade launchers, 108 grenades, two mines, four wireless sets, 26 batteries, 28 electronic circuits, 30 electric detonators, 13 mortar shells, 2,100 AK-47 rounds and more than 10 kg of RDX, said a police spokesman.

Following the intelligence inputs, the security arrangements were tightened in the whole state. The Moulana Azad Stadium in Jammu and the Bakhshi Stadium in Srinagar have been particularly sealed.

The roads leading to the two stadia have been also blocked. Governor N N Vohra will be the chief guest at the Jammu stadium, while Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar is expected to hoist the national flag at Srinagar stadium.

Security forces on Sunday conducted cordon and search operations in the areas around Bakhshi Stadium. They also checked the identity cards of the people. Security and police personnel would occupy the top floor of buildings around the stadium for good measure. According to the police, apprehensions of militant strikes during Republic Day have increased in view of the increase in militant attacks since last week.

In 1995, serial blasts had occurred in MAM Stadium in Jammu during the Republic Day function. While 15 persons were killed, the then governor Lt Gen K V Krishna Rao had a narrow escape. Even the Bakhshi Stadium in Srinagar had come under rocket attack on Republic Day in 1993.