Locals allege harassment as surveillance, frisking intensify ahead of Indian R-Day in Kashmir

Srinagar: A multi-layer security arrangement including a ground and aerial survey has been put in place on the eve of Indian Republic Day to conduct all the official functions smoothly across Kashmir and to foil “all possible attempts by militants to disrupt the functions”.

Government forces have also intensified frisking operations across Kashmir especially in the capital city of Srinagar and on various points on Srinagar-Jammu and Srinagar-Baramulla.

Quoting a senior police officer, KNO reported that fool-proof security arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth conduct of all the functions across the Valley.

“There is ground surveillance and there will be aerial surveillance. So both human and technical means will be used to ensure an incident-free Republic Day. Militant presence is there but we will thwart all their plans that are aimed at disrupting the R-Day functions,” the official said, when asked about the preparations in place for smooth conduct of January 26 functions in Srinagar and elsewhere.

He said that all government security agencies are maintaining a close synergy. “We have intensified frisking across the Valley especially Srinagar. We urge people to cooperate with the security officials during frisking as it is for their safety,” he said, hoping that “weather will improve in the days ahead so that all functions are held smoothly.”

The police official said that this time, there is very less frisking on roads in Srinagar and elsewhere. “We are not unnecessarily stopping vehicles and frisking them,” he said.

Meanwhile, commuters travelling on various roads in Srinagar and on highways alleged that they were subjected to harassment by the government security personnel, who asked them to show identity cards, vehicle papers and dashboards of vehicles, which led to traffic jams at various important junctions.

A police source said that special checkpoints have been set up in Srinagar which is on a high alert and drones too have been pressed into service to keep a close watch on suspects. “Sniffer dogs too are being used in and around the venue and roads leading to main venue in Srinagar SK Stadium Sonwar stand closed for all types of vehicular traffic,” he said.

In view of the bad weather in Kashmir, the divisional administration has made alternate arrangements if the weather further deteriorates on January 26. “We have kept alternate arrangement ready in all districts if weather turns bad on R-Day eve,” said Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole. (KNO)