Aerial surveillance, night patrolling to continue
Srinagar: Armed forces personnel in Jammu and Kashmir have been put on a high alert in the wake of the upcoming January 26 event and the ensuing Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) while as frisking has been intensified in Srinagar, Jammu, highways, and sensitive areas of the Union Territory (UT).
A senior police official said that for the January 26 event, armed forces have been deployed across the UT and all sorts of arrangements are in place to ensure the smooth passage of all official functions of January 26.
“This time around, we have a double challenge—one January 26 event and another BJY. Extra deployments have been made wherever necessary and all agencies have been directed to maintain the highest level of alertness to foil the evil designs,” the official said, wishing not to be named.
BJY led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has already entered Jammu and is scheduled to reach Srinagar on January 30
He said that all vigil is being maintained on the highways, in sensitive areas, and in all major cities and towns. “In Jammu city, deployment has been made for both January 26 event and the BJY while similar arrangements have been put in place in Srinagar district,” the officer said.
Eyewitnesses said that in Jammu city, police and paramilitary personnel have launched massive frisking operations while a close watch is being maintained on the suspects. In Srinagar, police including the women police and CRPF have started intense frisking operations with commuters travelling on four-wheelers and two-wheelers being frisked thoroughly.
“I was travelling from Pantha Chowk to Sonwar and was stopped by CRPF personnel. I was asked to show the I-D card. The CRPF personnel also took my photograph and when I asked why he took the snap, he replied that he had to show it to his superior,” said Showkat Ahmed, a resident of Pantha Chowk.
Police sources said that all the CCTVs have been made functional in Srinagar and in all districts of Kashmir and the movement of vehicles, and pedestrians are being closely watched from the respective control rooms of the police. A police source said that it was likely to go for aerial surveillance through drones in Srinagar and Jammu on January 26 to maintain aerial vigil. “We may use drones a day ahead of January 26 event,” he said. “Night patrolling is also being conducted in several areas of Kashmir and Jammu.”
Many other commuters and auto-drivers said that they were stopped at multiple points from Dalgate to Lal Chowk and thoroughly frisked.
The main January 26 event will be held at Jammu where LG Manoj Sinha will unfurl the tri-colour. In Srinagar, LG’s advisor, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar will take the salute of the parade and also hoist the national flag of India.
Pertinently, LG Sinha told reporters at Zewan, Srinagar on January 20, that elaborate arrangements have been made to facilitate BJY. Earlier, DGP Dilbagh Singh had stated that all measures were in place for the smooth conduct of all official functions on January 26 eve across the UT. (KNO)
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