Following a spurt in militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar this year, the state police has decided to install Closed Circuit Television cameras (CCTVs) across the capital at vital security and tourist spots like Lal Chowk, Dal lake and Mughal gardens.
As a part of our modernization drive, we are planning to cover the entire city with CCTVs including vital security spots and tourists places, said Srinagar Senior Superintendent of police, Javaid Reyaz Bedar.
In fact Police has already initiated the drive and as a first step will install CCTVs in Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of Srinagar. SSP informed that CCTVs have already been installed along the whole length of Moulana Azad Road which passes through the heart of Srinagar Lalchowk and leads to Civil secretariat, High Court and State Assembly.
Lalchowk is the hub of Srinagar. Politicians, Employees, or local people, whosoever has any issue, runs to Lal Chowk to be noticed, said Bedar.
So when militant want their strike be noticed they also come to Lalchowk and attack. Lalchowk has become very vulnerable and we don't want to take any chances. Soon Lalchowk would be covered by CCTVs, he informed.
Since January Lalchowk has witnessed two high profile attacks by militants. On January 06, two fidayeen militants attacked a security bunker at palladium lane before storming into a hotel. The encounter which continued for about 22 hours resulted in the death of the two militants and a policeman. One of the militant was from North Kashmir's Sopore town and another was a foreigner.
{{/usCountry}}Since January Lalchowk has witnessed two high profile attacks by militants. On January 06, two fidayeen militants attacked a security bunker at palladium lane before storming into a hotel. The encounter which continued for about 22 hours resulted in the death of the two militants and a policeman. One of the militant was from North Kashmir's Sopore town and another was a foreigner.
{{/usCountry}}On March 16, two militants again emerged in inner lanes of Lalchowk and fired on a patrol party of CRPF resulted in the death of a civilian and four injured including two CRPF personnel. The militants managed to escape from the spot.
From the past four days, police and CRPF has been conducting random crack down and frisking at Lalchowk. SSP said that they had inputs of militants again planning to strike. We are taking preventive measures. The frisking is for the security reasons, Bedar said.