Neyaz Elahi
Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir is all set to celebrate Republic Day tomorrow and to conduct these celebrations in a peaceful manner particularly at the main venue in Srinagar, a multi-layered security apparatus has been put in place.
Authorities do not want to take any chances and thus stringent security arrangements have been put in place across the Union Territory.
Official sources said that tight security arrangement have also been put in place in Jammu’s Chenab Valley that has witnessed a bit of surge in militancy related incidents.
A couple of days back, a grenade was thrown at a police party in Kishtwar region while Joint Forces recently apprehended over a dozen militant associates along with arms and ammunition in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu region.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will take the salute at the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu, the main venue of the Republic Day function on January 26 in the UT, officials said.
Meanwhile in Srinagar, Advisor to Lt Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, is scheduled to take salute at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, located in Sonwar, Srinagar.
The venue in Srinagar has been completely sealed including all the roads leading towards the venue. Barricades have been created near TRC and RM Bagh to disallow traffic and pedestrian movement on the road.
Frisking has been intensified in Srinagar. Check-points have been created to search vehicles and check identity cards of suspicious people.
A police official said that both Kashmir and Jammu have been divided into zones and extra deployment has been made to ensure peace in every zone.
“Anti-sabotage checks are going on at the venue, besides searches in its peripheral areas. Besides human intelligence, technical surveillance has also been pressed into service to monitor the movement of people,” the official added.
Snow has been cleared at the venues across Kashmir. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir At made a visit at the Srinagar venue to see the progress of snow-clearance.
An official said that besides searching of vehicles, checking of hotels and lodges are being done on a regular basis and joint check-points have been established at selected places.
Random searches, frisking and checking of vehicles have intensified and this will be done till late hours today.
Multi-layered security apparatus have also been put in place in North, Central and South Kashmir besides Srinagar city.
-CHK
