High alert in Capital, J-K for I-Day celebrations

Extra measures are being taken in Jammu & Kashmir, the present flashpoint and where Pak-based militants are most active. Union Home Ministry sources today said they were in “constant touch” with not only the Central forces but also the police at district-level in J&K to deal with any untoward incident. A senior officials said, “We have set up a special control room which will be functioning round the clock. Though it will co-ordinate with agencies from all the countries, J-K will remain the main area of concern.”

Till this evening, senior Home Ministry officials were believed to be in touch with their counterparts in the Valley.

In Srinagar, a three-tier security ring has been thrown around the three-km area surrounding Bakshi Stadium, the main venue for the Independence Daycelebrations tomorrow.

In view of the heightened security, Srinagar is in under a virtual siege. Sharp-shooters and snipers have are positioned on the rooftops and upper floors of the residences in the area.

For the first time, only Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah’s security personnel — the National Security Guards — will be allowed inside the stadium, a security official added. This is being done in view of the dire threats issued by the Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen chief commander Syed Salahuddin that they will now attack in a manner unprecedented in the history of militancy.

Since the group called off the cease-fire, the outfit has struck thrice, also staking claim to Thursday’s car bomb blast which killed 15 people.

The police, meanwhile, have sounded an alert in view if intelligenceinputs that two cars — a Maruti and an Ambassador leaden with explosives –were moving in the city to undermine the security arrangements fortomorrow’s function.

A senior police officer said they have received information that the twocars were stolen ones and militants could use them to ram into importantsecurity or government installations. Temporary registration centres havebeen set up at several intersections in the city to detect and neutralisethe two vehicles.

Srinagar’s Lal Chowk area remained virtually deserted today, as did roads leading to the city. Reports from Baramulla and Anantnag said people remained inside their houses most of the time. In Baramulla, security forces apprehending attacks, forced shopkeepers to down their shutters and leave early. Reports reaching here said many people, including scooterists, were beaten up by security forces for moving out.

In Tamil Nadu, Bihar and West Bengal too, the state Governments have taken several precautionary measures to keep trouble at bay. In Chennai, about 2,000 police personnel have been deployed around Fort St. George, the state secretariat, where Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi will hoist the tricolour.

Similar measures have been taken in the entire North-East.