Ahead of I-Day celebrations, police seek public cooperation

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 13

Amid heightened security, the J&K Police have requested people in Kashmir to cooperate and ensure smooth passage of the Independence Day celebrations, while also asking its officers to ensure foolproof security measures.

On Sunday, a gunfight broke out in the Batamaloo area, very close to the high security installations, including the civil secretariat. A policeman of the special operations group was killed and five others security men were injured in the gunfight, while militants managed to escape.

The security measures to thwart any designs of militants to create trouble on two major events of national importance — Independence Day and Republic Day — have remained the top concern of the police forces and other security agencies ever since the eruption of the armed militancy in 1989-90 in the state.

SP Pani, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir range, while reviewing security measures ahead of the I-Day celebrations here on Saturday, had “requested the public to cooperate with the police to ensure smooth passage of celebrations”, a police spokesman stated. The police and security forces have heightened the security drill by intensifying checking of vehicles at entry and exit points in the capital city, major towns and district headquarters.

On Sunday, long queues of vehicles could be seen undergoing security checks at the entry and exit points to Srinagar city. There were also Army patrols ensuring the segregation of Army convoys from the civilian traffic along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Monday.

Dress rehearsal held

Srinagar: A day after a gunfight in the city, full dress rehearsal was held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, the venue of the main Independence Day function in the state, amid tight security. Baseer Ahmad Khan, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, unfurled the national flag and inspected the parade. SP Vaid, DGP, J&K; AK Choudhary, ADG, Armed; Munir Ahmad Khan, ADG, Law and Order; SP Pani, IG, Kashmir; and civilian dignitaries were present on the occasion. TNS