Two Pak fidayeen held in Srinagar hours before CM146;s visit

Police did not elaborate on the operations that led to the arrest of the two Pakistanis. Sources, however, said police had been on the alert and were closely monitoring militants8217; communication channels in view of the VIP visits. They described the two men as highly-motivated.

Azad and Soni were to visit the Institute of Hotel Management complex in Rajbagh. Security was upped as they visited the institute on schedule.

Also in town is Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, visiting Kashmir over the last two days to review the security situation for the first time after taking charge of his post. Even before the arrests, Gupta, an old Kashmir hand in Delhi, had hinted at the possibility of militants trying to end the long period of calm the state has seen recently. Later, he addressed a press conference on the security situation and the implementation of the recommendations of the Centre8217;s working group on Kashmir.