The authorities in Kashmir heaved a sigh of relief on Friday evening as Republic Day functions across the troubled Valley culminated peacefully amid a security clampdown, suspension of cellular services and a shutdown called by separatist groups.
The main RD function was held at a high security cricket stadium in Srinagar amid tight security and was attended by mainstream politicians, Government officials and security personnel in civvies. Children from Government schools and cultural groups sang and danced in front of a thin audience.
Additional Director General of police Munir Khan who oversees counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir range claimed that a lady from Maharashtra has been arrested who was suspected to be on a mission to carry out a suicide attack on eve of Republic day. The police had already issued an alert but the woman has been held without any weapons. Police are now probing if the lady was really on a suicide mission.
The normal life remained crippled across the Valley as separatists called for a complete shutdown and security was beefed up in highly sensitive areas. The old Srinagar city turned into a fortress with deployment of thousands of police and paramilitary personnel. The congregational prayers on Friday afternoon were not allowed at Jamia Masjid, the biggest mosque in Srinagar where separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivers weekly sermon. He was put under house arrest like his senior colleague Syed Ali Geelani.
“India has no right to celebrate Republic Day as it has occupied Jammu Kashmir with its military might,” Geelani said in a statement.
“India claims to be world's largest democracy but virtually stands exposed in Jammu Kashmir as it is trampling all basic and fundamental rights of people since past seven decades,” a statement of the Hurriyat Conference said.
However, all official functions were held peacefully with moderate participation of people. In Srinagar, senior Minister in Mehbooba Mufti’s cabinet Abdur Rahman Veeri unfurlked the national flag. In his address he said the coalition Government in J&K was committed to development and efforts for bringing about peace and tranquility in the region.
late in the evening, suspected militants hurled a grenade towards a police station in Pulwama town. The explosion did not cause any injury.
Meanwhile, police claimed they have arrested a suspected suicide bomber and were still verifying whether or not the woman had entered Kashmir Valley for a “suicide bombing” on January 26.
“It is yet to be verified, authenticated, ascertained, whether she actually is a suicide bomber or not,” added Khan.
“We will be taking to her, talking to our sister agencies, we will be covering every other lead to know what the facts are. Only after proper investigation we will be able to come to any conclusion,” he said.
Khan said a case has been registered and further investigations into the case have been launched.
A high alert had been sounded in Kashmir following an “intelligence input” that a non-Kashmiri woman suicide bomber might disrupt the R-Day celebrations in the Valley.
A message circulated from the office of Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) to all district police heads and chief of security wing in Kashmir, said "there is a strong input" that an 18-year-old woman non-Kashmiri woman might "cause a suicide bomb explosion" near or inside the R-Day parade in Kashmir.
"All are directed to please ensure that frisking of ladies at the (venues) is done meticulously and with utmost caution so as to thwart the designs of anti-national elements," read the alert.