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Security Apparatus in Kashmir Tightened Ahead of India's Independence Day

By Fayaz Wani

As India's Independence Day is fast approaching, the security apparatus across the violence hit Kashmir Valley has been further beefed up to prevent militants carrying out attacks on 50th Independence Day on August 15.

The strength of Indian police and para-military personnel across the restive Kashmir Valley has been increased with additional force personnel being deployed in the sensitive and vulnerable places, both in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley.

Indian police and para-military personnel erected barricades at several places in the summer capital and Indian security personnel are searching all the vehicles and people passing through blockades thoroughly. The identity cards of people are also being thoroughly screened. Whosoever is not carrying an identity card is being detained and interrogated.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Indian police and para-military soldiers conducted combing operations in a large area of the summer capital. They cordoned the 2 km area from Tourist Reception Centre to Court Road, Srinagar and conducted thorough frisking of people, passersby, vehicle drivers, passengers, shopkeepers, students, businesspersons and employees. The schoolchildren, who were leaving the schools and waiting for buses in Lal Chowk, Srinagar too were not spared and their baggage was searched.

The Indian security personnel conducted thorough searches of all the vehicles in the 2 km area and no vehicle or person was allowed to move ahead without searches and frisking.

During the combing operation, which lasted for more than an hour, Indian security personnel conducted house-to-house searches in the 2 km area. All the household goods in the houses were searched thoroughly. The locals were also frisked and their identity cards checked.

Searches especially included all light motor vehicles entering the summer capital Srinagar from other parts of troubled Kashmir Valley. "We have instructions from our superiors to search all the vehicles entering Srinagar from other parts of Valley", a para-military soldier said at a checkpoint in Srinagar.

A top para-military CRPF officer told Newsblaze that the search operations in Srinagar have been intensified to prevent the militants from carrying out any attacks on India's Independence Day on August 15. "We are searching all the vehicles entering Srinagar so that militants are prevented from transporting explosives and ammunition to Srinagar from other parts of the troubled Kashmir Valley", he said.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.