Security has been beefed up in Kashmir Valley ahead of Republic Day, the second occasion in a row to be celebrated in Governor’s rule in the embattled State. Bakshi Stadium, the main venue of R-Day function in summer capital Srinagar has been put under 3-tier security where provincial head of the administration is slated to unfurl Tricolour and take salute on Tuesday morning.
Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in sensitive localities of Srinagar to maintain law and order. The separatists have called for a complete shutdown, a routine they have been following since 1989 when armed insurgency began in the region.
The restrictions are not comparable to the early years of militancy when the Bakshi Stadium used to be turned into a garrison even compelling residents in the vicinity to migrate from the area. On Monday, few shops were open in the area, pedestrians moving around and skeletal traffic playing on the roads. The movement thinned out later in the evening.
A security official said that change in threat perception, non-existence of local militants in Srinagar city and use of surveillance technology are the main reasons for relaxed security arrangements. “But we cannot take any chances”, he said.
The mobile and internet communication is likely to be snapped on Tuesday during the official function.
This is the second occasion in a row when State is celebrating R-Day in the absence of an elected Government. last year, it was political stalemate following the hung verdict of the Assembly elections. The PDP and BJP took two months time to cobble up a coalition that began functioning from March 1, 2015.
The State was under Governor’s rule from January 7 to March 1. This year, after the demise of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed as Chief Minister on January 7, the Governor’s rule was imposed when the coalition failed to choose the replacement for the CM. The stalemate is continuing as PDP, the largest party in the Assembly, has not nominated its leader.
A senior Cabinet Minister takes salute in Srinagar while the main function in the State.
Sources said intense frisking operations were being carried on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway and other major roads in the Valley to check suspicious movements.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Javid Gilani said that security arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth passage of all the official functions across Kashmir. Full dress rehearsals were carried out at all district headquarters.