Security tightened across J&K to ensure peaceful Independence Day celebrations
Srinagar/Jammu: Security has been beefed up across Jammu and Kashmir, especially along the borders with Pakistan, to thwart any attempt to disrupt peace in the region ahead of Independence Day, officials said on Sunday.
Massive ‘tiranga’ rallies are being held in the region in the run up to Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday.
The Army and Border Security Force have intensified their vigil all along the 225-km Line of Control (LoC) and 192-km International Border (IB), officials said.
Area domination and checking in the hinterland have also been stepped up as part of the heightened security arrangements, they said.
Police have issued a security advisory in the border district of Rajouri, seeking people’s cooperation during checking and also asked them to report to security agencies any suspicious movement or object.
Last week, Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh chaired a joint meeting of various security agencies and called for a high level of alertness and ‘offensive operations’ to thwart terror threats.
He also stressed for strengthening of the border security grid, anti-drone measures, joint checking points at vulnerable locations and inter-district boundaries.
The officials said the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, and Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu, the venues of the main Independence Day functions in twin capital cities were virtually sealed with additional deployment of police and paramilitary personnel.
Jammu and Kashmir’s top cop on Sunday said adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful conduct of Independence Day celebrations in the union territory.
Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said people should come in large numbers to participate in the Independence Day celebrations across Jammu and Kashmir.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm and people want to participate in the Independence Day functions. We have made adequate security arrangements for the Independence Day celebrations,” Singh told reporters at a Tiranga rally here.
Responding to questions, Singh said the number of active militants in Jammu and Kashmir was not very high but asserted that the security forces cannot lower their guard.
“We don’t have to go into the numbers, which is not high anyways. But attempts are being made from across and through social media to mislead the youth. The youth have, however, understood that this (militancy) is a path to destruction. I congratulate them,” he added.
On the situation along the borders, the DGP said there were attempts of infiltration from across but most of these bids have been foiled at the Line of Control (LoC) itself.
“Attempts to infiltrate have been taking place but most of the bids have been eliminated. Most of the encounters this year have taken place along the LoC,” he added.
