Jammu and Kashmir on alert over Lashkar strike threat (Second Lead)

JAMMU/SRINAGAR - A high alert was sounded across Jammu and Kashmir Monday about a possible terror strike ahead of the Republic Day Jan 26 and to ensure calm in view of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) proposed march to the valley to hoist the national flag in Srinagar city centre. Both the state government and the separatists have vowed to oppose the BJP plan.

Sources in intelligence agencies in Jammu said there were reports of a major terrorist strike being planned by the Lashkar-e-Taiba in the run-up to the 62nd Republic Day.

The state government and the union home ministry have started exchanging notes on security issues on an hourly-basis, they said.

The Lashkar-e-Taiba was preparing to strike, using car bombs and improvised explosive devices, particularly in the summer capital city of Srinagar, sources said.

“Accordingly, a red alert has been sounded,” a source told IANS.

Sources said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was in constant touch with union Home Minister P. Chidambaram over security issues ahead of the Republic Day.

Sources said security was also beefed up to prevent any untoward incident ahead of the BJP’s planned hoisting of the national flag in Srinagar on the Republic Day.

“The border between the state and Punjab has been sealed to prevent BJP activists from entering the state in connection with their proposed flag hoisting march,” said a senior police officer in Srinagar.

Despite Abdullah requesting that nothing should be done to vitiate the law and order situation, the BJP’s youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has announced it would go ahead with its “tiranga yatra” and unfurl the national flag in Srinagar’s city centre Lal Chowk Jan 26.

To counter the BJP march, separatist Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) also announced a march to Lal Chowk Jan 26.

“In order to hold hassle-free Republic Day functions across the state, it has been decided that nobody would be allowed to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere here,” a senior intelligence officer said.

Barricades have been erected around the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, the venue of the main Republic Day parade in the valley.

In addition to heavy deployment of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force personnel, security is also being monitored through closed circuit television cameras which have been installed at major traffic crossings and around sensitive security installations.

Police columns with armoured vehicles were Monday moving around and all incoming buses being checked at Lakhanpur, the gateway to the state, on the border with Punjab.

The BJYM launched the march from Kolkata Jan 12. The march is scheduled to enter the state Tuesday.