DIAL 100- An integrated Emergency Response system Sunday came to the rescue of two budding trekkers in Srinagar, who were caught in a crossfire in the Zabarwan forest of Srinagar, following reports of suspicious movement of terrorists in the highly guarded area.
As security forces resorted to speculative firing to establish contact with the terrorists spotted in the area, the trekkers, who climbed the hills to soak themselves in the serene atmosphere, panicked and took shelter behind the rocks to avoid being hit by bullets.
While security forces rushed reinforcements to cordon off the entire area one of the trekkers acted smartly and dialled 100 informing the police control room about their whereabouts in the vicinity of the encounter site.
Responding swiftly to the SOS call made by these trekkers the ongoing operation was halted and both the trekkers were rescued by the security forces from the forest area of Zabarwan hills. According to preliminary reports, the operation was launched in the highly guarded area on Sunday after noticing the suspicious movement of two individuals with rucksacks. The trekkers were later identified as Tariq Ahmad Mir and Mufti Ziyan. They are both employed at a well-known missionary school in Srinagar.
After safely rescuing both the trekkers the police shifted them to a local police station for questioning, where their identities and credentials were thoroughly verified. The duo were released after confirmation that both of them were innocent.
Following the incident, Jammu and Kashmir Police issued an advisory for trekkers and adventurers, urging them to alert local authorities before venturing in sensitive areas and high-security zones.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone, Vidhi Kumar Birdi, Monday emphasised the need to keep local police stations informed about travel plans. “Prior information about trekkers’ plan and their routes will allow us to act quickly in case of any untoward occurrence,” Birdi said.
“We encourage adventurers, especially those venturing into high-security areas, to always share their travel plans with the nearest police station. This communication helps us prepare and respond swiftly should any unforeseen issues arise,” he noted.
“Locals, tourists, and especially trekkers should reach out to us if they encounter any situation that requires urgent attention. Dialling 100 or contacting the nearest police station helps us coordinate with ongoing operations and ensures rapid assistance,” Birdi said. After the tourism department opened up several trekking sites across different parts of Kashmir valley several amateur trekkers undertook weekly treks in the precincts of Mother Nature.
