Srinagar- A three-tier security blanket involving helicopter reconnaissance and drone surveillance has been planned to ensure smooth and peaceful Independence Day celebrations in Kashmir, officials said on Monday.
Authorities have said internet services will not be suspended during the celebrations as used to be done until a few years ago.
Elite SOG personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Police assisted by other security forces have started carrying out area domination exercises around city centre Lal Chowk and Bakshi stadium, the venue of the main Independence Day function in the valley, officials said.
They said unlike past years, there are no barricades in the city but the security forces are randomly frisking vehicles and passersby to keep anti-national elements at bay.
“We have made adequate security arrangements. As there are more events planned this year, we will provide three-tier security. There will be drone surveillance, helicopter recce as well,” Additional Director General of Police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said.
He said the arrangements have been made in a way that no one should be inconvenienced.
“The lieutenant governor is going to inaugurate the Ghanta Ghar project. We have made arrangements to ensure that the businessmen or ordinary people are not inconvenienced,” he said.
Kumar also said internet services, which used to be suspended for security reasons before 2019, will continue uninterrupted in Kashmir on Independence Day.
“There will be no suspension of internet services on Independence Day. We have not done it for the past three years. Schools will be open, shops will be open, traffic will ply as usual. I have appealed to people to participate in numbers in the Independence Day functions,” he added.
Bakshi Stadium Entry On Valid I-Cards
Meanwhile the UT administration on Monday announced that valid identity cards shall be treated as entry passes to allow people to witness the grand function at the Bakshi Stadium here on 77th Independence Day.
Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha will hoist the National Flag at the venue.
The civil society members, trade unionists, trade and transport federations, politicians, students and general public are continuously approaching the office of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir for issuance of the visiting passes to attend/ witness the event, an official spokesperson said Monday.
“Accordingly, general public including the civil society members, trade unionist, trade and transport federations, politicians, students etc. are hereby cordially invited to attend Independence Day Function-2023 at Bakshi Stadium and be seated before 9.00 AM to make the event more graceful and colourful,” he said.
The spokesperson said that the valid identity cards shall be treated as entry passes for the venue.
BSF Steps Up Vigil Along LoC
“Our fellow citizens can celebrate Independence Day without any worry as we are here to guard the borders”. This is the message from a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan posted along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Constable Sanjeev Kumar Rai said the BSF troopers guarding the Line of Control have to step up vigilance as the inimical forces have evil designs to create disturbance on the eve of Independence Day.
“While the nation prepares to celebrate the Independence Day, our enemy also plans on how to create disturbances here. To tackle their designs, we get orders from the high command for upping the vigil along the Line of Control and border by way of patrolling and area domination exercises. We try our best to live up to the expectations,” Rai said.
He said the jawans posted along the LoC have to exhibit a level of alertness higher than the usual borders due to tough terrain.
“We have to increase the alertness because this is an area of dense vegetation where one cannot be sure of the identity of a person even at a short distance of 50 metres. We have to stay alert to any suspicious movement of terrorists while also ensuring our own safety. The dangers at the LoC are anyways more compared to normal borders,” he added.
Magan, deputy commandant of the unit, said the drill to secure the LoC was “nothing new for my boys” but the guard has to be kept up in view of the Independence Day celebrations. “This is not new for us. This is our routine practice but the alertness increases as the terrorists want to instill fear among the people ahead of the Independence Day. To foil the evil designs of the terrorists, we step up patrolling and intensify firing practice. While the operation has begun recently, the preparations for this operation began several months ago,” he said.
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