Kashmir on High Alert

Threat of militant attacks keeps security agencies on toes.

Srinagar:  In wake of recent spurt in militancy related incidents in valley and resultant casualties, security forces have been put on high alert to thwart any possibility of attempts to carry out more such attacks.
According to official sources, army, police and paramilitary forces apart from intelligence agencies have been directed to intensify vigil across Kashmir valley in view of inputs that militants are attempting to carry out more attacks. “As per the inputs, certain militant outfits are believed to be planning to carry out attacks in and around Srinagar city. There seems to be shift (of attacks) towards cities and towns as they (militants) find it easier to mix with civilians while fleeing as also dense population gives them better chances to hide”, a senior police official told.
“We have already intensified vigil while as intelligence networks are also being activated to reduce chances of attacks by pre-empting the militant attempts”, he said and added that the police has launched operations in city outskirts apart from north Kashmir areas on reports of presence of militants. “However, no fresh arrests were made in this regard”, he claimed.
He said security has been tightened around vital installations, security camps and sensitive places in Srinagar which could be possibly targeted by the militants including fidayeen.
Meanwhile, according to reports received from various areas in city apart from north and south Kashmir areas, the police and the CRPF have erected check points to avert such attacks. Vehicles entering Srinagar, especially those from Sopore and Kupwara, are being checked. Besides, security forces have been conducting surprise checks on vehicles and frisking passengers in and around the city. The police are also monitoring CCTV footage from the Civil Lines area to tap suspicious movement of people and vehicles, sources said.
Reports received from north Kashmir said surprise checking of vehicles was being carried out by police and CRPF on vehicles entering various towns including Baramulla, Kupwara, Sopore and Handwara. Reports of checking of I Cards, frisking and search of vehicles have also been received from south Kashmir’s Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag districts.
Random checking of vehicles over past week was also witnessed in  Batamaloo, Qamarwari, Hyderpora, Safa Kadal, Bulward Road, Parimpora, Panthachow, Nowgam and several other places in the city.
Director General of Police, Ashok Prasad confirmed to news agency that police has been receiving inputs about possibility of attacks. “Police always remains alert to thwart any possibility of attacks and we have been receiving certain inputs, for which necessary steps have to be taken”, he said adding “Whenever we receive any inputs, we take necessary precautionary measures to thwart nefarious designs of certain elements”.
He said militants were trying to provoke security forces by carrying out attacks in populated and busy areas. “It is a part of their strategy to provoke police and other forces so that they could cash in on such a scenario. However, we are ensuring that no collateral damage occurs while retaliating to the attacks”, DGP told and added that the militants were trying to show their presence as attacks in urban areas gets them more publicity. He said random checking and frisking were a part of the police measures to ensure peace apart from saving precious human lives.
Pertinently, Fidayeen militants had attacked a CRPF party near Police School at Bemina on March 13, killing 5 personnel on spot and injuring many including civilians. Two Fidayeen were also killed in the gunfight. The attack was followed by two more attacks in city outskirts at Nowgam and north Kashmir’s Sopore town. One BSF personnel was killed in Nowgam attack while as a civilian lost his life at Sopore when suspected militants fired at a police party.