No restrictions, says Div com, ‘All security arrangements in place, forces asked to maintain utmost vigil’: DGP
Srinagar, Aug 14: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is hoisting the Tricolor today here at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar, to mark the Independence day celebrations.
The Jammu and Kashmir police said that the tight security arrangements are in place and the forces have been directed to maintain utmost vigil.
Officials said that the main Independence day function of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory is scheduled at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar today, wherein the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will hoist the Tricolor.
Since 2017, the government was celebrating January 26 and August 15 celebrations at Shar-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium Sonwar instead of the traditional venue at Bakhsi Stadium, as the repair works were going on there.
However after the repair works having been completed, the Stadium will host the main Independence Day function today.
“The function is being held in the Stadium here so that more and more people can come to participate. Adequate arrangements have been made for it. There are no restrictions today, there is no need for a pass to enter the stadium,” Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, V K Bhiduri said.
Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh said that elaborate security arrangements are in place for the peaceful conduct of Independence Day celebrations.
“Security agencies in the Union territory are maintaining tight vigil in view of the Independence Day functions today. Forces are fully prepared to deal with any eventuality”, Dilbagh Singh said.
“Independence day will be celebrated with great fervor,” the DGP maintained.
Sources said that a massive security blanket was thrown around Bakshi Stadium to sanitize the venue.
Additional forces were deployed to ensure foolproof security of the venue.
Police said that security across the valley too has been beefed up with police and security forces were setting up additional nakas at different places to keep anti-national elements at bay.
A police official said a huge number of security men were deployed at various important functional areas in the other districts including the Jammu region.
Sources said that senior police officers were assigned the job of monitoring the suspicious movement in the city.
“Sharp shooters on the top of various buildings in different areas around the Bakshi stadium were put in place for security reasons to stop any untoward incident,” sources said.
Meanwhile , a senior police official said that special security checkpoints were set up at all entry and exit points into the city and major towns, where random frisking of pedestrians and checking of vehicles were carried out.
Meanwhile, according to the reports, the security grid was increased in the Srinagar city with additional deployment of troops and raised checkpoints at all the sensitive locations.
“The security personnel were directed to maintain vigil and tighten security within the city especially around the venue of Independence day celebrations,” a senior police official said.
Sources said that though the Jammu and Kashmir police in assistance with other agencies had tightened the security within the city and the peripheries, However, in view of threats of infiltrations from across the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB), the Army and Border Security Force, had also tightened the vigil along the borders.
Police said that similar arrangements were in place in other districts of Valley too.
Adequate security was deployed inside Baramulla, Sopore and other sensitive areas of the District. Security grids were also tightened in Pulwama, Shopian and Islamabad districts of South Kashmir, where troops and police manned the streets and the highway to keep a close watch on the movement of suspicious persons.
