SrinagarAuthorities here have declared a high alert in Srinagar after intelligence reports suggested that militants have moved into the summer capital and were planning a major Fidayeen type attack on government forces.
Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Muneer Khan in an official communication to security agencies has stated that militants’ movement was observed in Srinagar.
He warned the security agencies that militants are planning to stage attacks on security forces’ camps or their deployments in Srinagar and asked them to take preventive measures to track militants and prevent further attacks.
Movement of militants was observed in the volatile downtown area. Militants are planning to carry out grenade attack or indiscriminate firing upon security forces camps, establishments or deployments specifically in Noorbagh, Nowhatta and Eidgah areas within next two days, sources quoting intelligence inputs told Kashmir Observer. They said that the information has been shared with police and army for immediate preventive measures and to track and neutralise the militants.
When contacted IGP Munir Khan told Kashmir Observer that it was a routine alert for Srinagar. We keep getting inputs about militants normally. We have to act on those inputs and we are keeping extra vigil to avoid any such incident in the city, Khan said. The alert was generally issued so that no attack or fidayeen attack takes place. It was a routine alert, the IGP said.
Sources said five militants of Srinagar, who were camping in south Kashmir for some time, have returned to the summer capital.
They (the militants) have returned to their hide-outs in Srinagar. They have been tasked to carry out attacks on security forces deployments or their camps in Srinagar, they said.
Militants on April 15 evening, had attacked a police patrol at Hyderpora area in Srinagar, killing a policeman and injuring another.
Prior to that militants had attacked a CRPF patrol party with a grenade in Safa-Kadal area of downtown Srinagar, injuring five personnel.
After intelligence inputs warning of militant attacks, the police, paramilitary and army have upped patrolling and area domination in the summer capital besides increasing security around camps and major government installations.
IG CRPF, Ravideep Singh Sahi, said the alert will continue. The security forces are on the highest mode of alert to deal with any situation in Srinagar. The IGP said that there are possibilities that militants come to their hide-outs in Srinagar and then return to their bases.We have got specific information that militants are planning attacks on security forces deployment and camps in Srinagar, he said.
The CRPF IGP said that inputs have been received for Srinagar being vulnerable to the militant attacks in coming days. The inputs are for the city. And we have alerted our men to be ready to foil any militant attack. He said they have reviewed the security measures after the recent militant attacks and strengthened the security, wherever the need was felt.
The area dominations and patrolling has been intensified. Besides, the Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) are conducting drills to be ready to deal with any situation. The security around the camps and major government installations including Civil Secretariat, Radio Kashmir and Doordarshan has been increased and additional security personnel deployed at these places to maintain tight vigil and thwart any militant attack.
Army has also increased the vigil in Srinagar and soldiers have intensified night patrolling and area dominations.
Forces in armoured vehicles are conducting night patrolling in parts of Srinagar. They have also set up temporary checks posts in Srinagar to screen the vehicles and commuters. A police official said CCTVs in Srinagar have been activated.
He said close watch on the movement of people is being maintained through these CCTVs.
Recently army units in full battle gear descended in city nerve centre Lal Chowk in armoured vehicles and cordoned off several areas following inputs about the presence of militants. This was for the first time in years that armed forces launched combing and search operation (CASO) in the city centre. The troops armed with RPGs and automatic weapons laid siege around the busy Court Road and Bund area in the morning, eyewitnesses said.
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