Security tightened across Kashmir ahead of Republic Day
Officials said three-tier security will be in place around the venue where the main Republic Day function is being organised; both army and the police have been asked to conduct night domination patrolling, especially on the highways connecting rural areas with the city
Security has been beefed up across Kashmir, especially in Srinagar, ahead of the Republic Day with police and other security personnel carrying out sanitisation and area domination exercises, officials said on Monday.
The main Republic Day function of J&K will be held at Jammu wherein lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha will hoist the tricolour. The adviser to Sinha will unfurl the national flag at high security zone of SK stadium.
At some places, security forces are also conducting surprise checks. Officials said three-tier security will be in place around the venue where the main Republic Day function is being organised. Both army and the police have been asked to conduct night domination patrolling, especially on the highways connecting rural areas with the city.
A senior security force officer said, “We are already on alert and want incident-free Republic Day celebrations in Kashmir.”
On Sunday evening, suspected militants had hurled a grenade in the Eidgah area of Old City, which missed the intended target and exploded on road, causing injuries to a civilian. For the past 10 days, top police officials have been convening review meetings in central, north and south Kashmir wherein security related to Republic Day celebrations topped the agenda.
Recently, J&K DGP Dilbag Singh had said that all security arrangements will be in place for peaceful Republic Day celebrations across the union territory.
Two IEDs destroyed in J&K’s Rajouri
Two IEDs were destroyed in a controlled explosion in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police officer said on Monday.
The IEDs (improvised explosive devices) were recovered during a joint operation by police, army, and CRPF from Dassal village, 4km from Rajouri town, on Sunday evening, the officer said. He said the IEDs were located following an intelligence input.
They were destroyed in a controlled explosion by the bomb disposal squad in the Chingus forest area, 30km away from the town.
Security forces are on high alert across Jammu and Kashmir, where they have intensified checking and strengthened border and highway grids in view of the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra and upcoming Republic Day.
A fresh alert was issued for the forces following two blasts on Saturday in Narwal locality of Jammu that left nine persons injured, and recovery of another IED in Kheora village of Rajouri last week, the officer said.
(With inputs from PTI)