Security has been beefed up at all venues in Kashmir Valley where Republic Day functions will be held on Monday so as to foil any disruptive militant plans, official sources said in Srinagar on Saturday.
Barricades have been erected around the venue for the main function at Bakshi Stadium and there is heavy deployment of security forces on the surrounding roads where a full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day March Past was held on Saturday.
Contingents from Police, Army, CRPF and other agencies will parade and students of various schools will conduct cultural programmes during the March Past, the sources said.
Divisional commissioner Kashmir Masood Samoon took the salute at the dress rehearsal for Monday's function, they said.
Security forces have been asked to remain vigilant ahead of Republic Day as there are apprehensions that militants might try to carry out a spectacular attack to get into the limelight, they said.
"As militant guns have been mostly silent for the past several months due to increased pressure from security forces, the ultras might try to stage a comeback of sorts in the public conscience.
"The heavy voter turnout in the recent Assembly elections has had a demoralising effect on the militant cadres as is indicated by some intercepts of their communication," the sources said.
{{/usCountry}}"The heavy voter turnout in the recent Assembly elections has had a demoralising effect on the militant cadres as is indicated by some intercepts of their communication," the sources said.
{{/usCountry}}Security forces started random frisking of passers-by and searches of vehicles since on Friday in the areas near the Bakshi Stadium including Lal Chowk, Exhibition Crossing, Budshah Chowk, Wazir Bagh, Haft Chinar, Rambagh and Iqbal Park, the sources said.