A thick security blanket has been thrown around the city for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden election rally in Kashmir as helicopters were deployed on Sunday for surveillance over the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, the venue of the event, and adjoining areas.
“The security grid is in place and you are probably listening to some surveillance operation which is going on at top (helicopters),” General Officer Commanding of the Army’s 15 Corps lt General Subrata Saha told reporters in Srinagar.
Several helicopters could be seen flying over the cricket stadium where Modi will address his first election rally in Kashmir on Monday.
“So the grid is very much in place and it is highly effective. I do not think it will be appropriate for me to reveal anything more than that,” lt Gen Saha said.
The security forces —including police and paramilitary CRPF — have been deployed in strength across the Srinagar city while all roads leading to the venue of the rally have been sealed.
Concertina wires have been laid at several intersections in city’s Dalgate, Sonawar, Gupkar Road and TRC Crossing to block the movement of vehicles and people towards the stadium.
A posse of policemen and CRPF personnel have been deployed at each intersection to ensure that the security drill is followed in letter and spirit, a senior police officer said.
In other parts of the city, motor vehicle checking points have been established by security forces for checking the vehicles moving around. The intelligence agencies and police have been directed to keep an eye on the suspected persons, the officer said.