The ghost is back: ’90s style ‘crackdown’ returns to Srinagar, civilians frisked en masse

0Srinagar: A heavy frisking and search operation was launched by government forces on Monday at Hari Singh High Street in the Lal Chowk area of Srinagar, Free Press Kashmir reported.

Civilians were made to stand in queues for frisking and their belongings were checked.

The 1990s style massive ‘crackdown’ comes close on the heels of an attack by suspected militants in the Baghat area of Srinagar in which two policemen were killed.

A local shopkeeper told Free Press Kashmir that the forces began the operation all of a sudden and asked people to stand in queues to be frisked later.

“It is like the crackdown of the 90s is back. I have not seen this in a long time, even though I am not seeing this for the first time,” a local who runs a jewellery business in the area said.

Pertinently, Inspector General of Police for Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar, on Sunday presided over a detailed security meeting wherein he highlighted the “importance of surprise nakas and limited CASOs in crowded places”.