SRINAGAR: Suspected militants have high-jacked a car on Jammu-Srinagar highway, Police Wednesday said a three-tier security blanket has been put in place ahead of the Indian Independence Day on Friday.
Meanwhile elaborate security arrangements have been made across the state particularly around Bakhshi Stadium in Kashmir Valley, where the main function of Indias Independence Day will be held.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will reportedly unfurl the Indian tricolor at Bakhshi Stadium on August 15.
There is three -tier security ring, closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) have been installed and antisabotage mechanism is in place to ensure peaceful function, a top security official said adding that general public can enter through gate number 7 and 8 of the Bakshi stadium. He, however said invitees would have to prove their identity at the function. They should bring invitation card and their identity proof to ensure their entry through Tulsi Bagh side, he said. A CNS report, quoting sources, said that in order to avert any sabotage sharpshooters have been deployed atop high-rise buildings around the stadium
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in other parts of the Valley and the venues of I-day functions at the district headquarters have also been handed over to the police and other security agencies. In Srinagar city paramilitary CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel are conducting frisking of civilians and searching of the vehicles for the past more than one week. Besides, vehicles entering from the other districts of Valley are also being searched at the entry points of the city.
Police sources said that in wake of the hijack of a private vehicle on Srinagar-Jammu highway, alert has been sounded across Kashmir while according to police all efforts are on to trace the missing vehicle.
Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief K Rajendra told reporters that police was hopeful of tracing the hijacked vehicle. The investigation is in advanced stage and it will be premature to comment on this issue right now, Rajendra said adding that police, IRP and paramilitary CRPF have been deployed in strength to maintain law and order in the state on the eve of Independence Day.
Director General of Police said that the driver of the hijacked vehicle had informed that four persons tied him with a tree and hijacked the vehicle in Ramban district. We are ready to handle any kind of situation. We have got some vital leads in this regard and police is sure that it will trace the hijacked vehicle, he said. Reports also said a taxi was hired by two people for Srinagar from Pathankot city in Punjab Tuesday.
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) patrol party according to police found the driver of the car tied to a tree at a secluded place in Ramban district. “The driver said he was hired by two people from Pathankot and two more people joined them in Jammu. After reaching Ramban, the driver was told to leave the vehicle and it was hijacked by its passengers at the gun point,” police said. Consequently, a high alert has been sounded across the state as police feared the hijacked car could be used by militants for subversive activities ahead of or on Independence day. Both factions of Hurriyat Conference and United Jihad Council have called for shutdown on August 15.
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