Tight security in Srinagar ahead of R-Day
By IANSMonday, January 25, 2010
SRINAGAR - Security forces have been deployed at the Bakshi stadium here, the venue for the Republic Day parade Tuesday, and roads leading to it have been barricaded to thwart terror strikes.
Heavily armed contingents of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) wearing bullet-proof jackets have taken over the Bakshi Stadium.
Though authorities have not imposed any restrictions, fewer public and private vehicles were seen on the roads where checkposts have been set up.
Every vehicle entering the city is being checked and the occupants are being frisked by security forces.
All high-rise buildings around Bakshi Stadium have been taken over by sharp-shooters of the security forces to ensure that guerrillas don’t carry out any attacks using rocket-propelled guns.
Sniffer dogs were also used to ensure that there are no hidden explosives near the function venue or on the routes that would be used by ministers and senior officials to reach it. Mobile bunker vehicles have been parked on sensitive routes and near security installations.
Tensions have been high in Kashmir since the beginning of 2010 as guerrillas have engaged the security forces in 14 shootouts and also made 12 infiltration bids from across the India-Pakistan border.
The people have fully cooperated with us in carrying out our security arrangements which are basically meant to save public life and property,” said Inspector General of Police Farooq Ahmad.
The arrangements made are absolutely in accordance with the standing operation procedure for such national occasions, he added.
Attendance in government offices, banks and business establishments was low because fewer vehicles were available in the city and other major towns of the Kashmir Valley.
Separatist leaders of both the groups of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference have called for a boycott of the official Republic Day functions and a protest shutdown across the Valley Tuesday to highlight their demand for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
