Curbs lifted in some places, overall situation peaceful
The entire security grid has been put in a state of high alert to ensure peaceful celebrations of the 73rd Independence Day in Jammu & Kashmir on Thursday.
Amid heightened tension with Pakistan, foot soldiers of the Indian Army and BSF have been asked to remain vigilant to prevent any infiltration bid from across the border.
Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place across both the main cities of Jammu and Srinagar to ensure incident-free celebrations.
This is the first Independence Day after the abrogation of the special status to Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370 and reorganisation of the State into two Union Territories.
To set the stage for the special celebrations, several Tiranga rallies were organised across Jammu region where a large number of people took out rallies holding tricolours.
Barring Kishtwar and Poonch, where security forces exercised extra caution to ensure peace, situation remained peaceful across other district headquarters of Jammu region on Wednesday. But anti-India posters surfaced in Poonch in Sheeshmahal area near office of the Deputy Commissioner. Strict enforcement of Section 144 CrPC was applied in Kishtwar and people were advised to stay indoors.
The Government on Wednesday said all the arrangements to celebrate the Independence Day are now in place in all the districts of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
This was stated by the Government’s spokesperson and Principal Secretary Planning and Development Rohit Kansal in Srinagar.
Kansal said restrictions were eased out in various parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar city which remained peaceful. He added reasonable restrictions are put in place to maintain law and order situation in the Valley.
He further said situation in Kashmir is peaceful and no major incidents have been reported. The Government has relaxed prohibitory orders in many areas, he said.
Additional Director-General of Police, Law and Order, Munir Khan said the situation is under control and the main focus is to have a peaceful celebration on Independence Day.
Khan said there have been localised incidents at various parts of Srinagar and other districts and these were contained locally. “There have been no major injuries, but a few pellet injuries. Our biggest endeavour is that no civil casualty should take place,” he said.
Regarding the availability of essential services, Kansal said services like National Highway, Airport, are normal, availability of normal and emergency medicines are available at all the hospitals.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu Tejinder Singh said several security check points have been established to ensure smooth conduct of the Independence Day celebrations in Jammu. He said several teams have been deployed in vulnerable areas to keep a close watch on the suspects while venues of I-Day functions have been fully secured with heavy deployment of security forces.
People have been asked to inform police in case they notice any suspicious person or object, an advisory issued by the Senior Superintendent of Police (Security), Jammu, said.
They have been advised to not carry arms and ammunition, sharp-edged weapons, hand bags, polythene bags, transistors, hand fire extinguishers, stop watch, any kind of powder, inflammable material like cigarettes, match boxes, lighter, cameras and alike objectionable items.
People have been advised to cooperate with security personnel and not hesitate in disclosing their identity if requested by the personnel. District administrations have been constantly reviewing the security situation since the Government scrapped Jammu & Kashmir’s special status on August 5.
An unprecedented security arrangement has been put in place to avoid any trouble in the border State. Also, internet and telecommunication lines had been completely suspended immediately after the Government’s move.
Railway police conducted sanitation operation at Railway stations in Udhampur, Katra and Jammu, Kathua and also along the tracks with sniffer dogs and metal detectors, they said.