SRINAGAR: Police has launched crackdown against what it called trouble-makers across Kashmir picking up around five hundred of them ahead of polls for Srinagar and Baramulla constituencies. Police initiated action to identify the trouble makes and stone pelters soon after poll day in South Kashmir on 24th April.
So far it has arrested 70 of them with 25 arrests made in Pulwama, 09 in Shopian, 12 in Awantipore, 13 in Kulgam and 11 in Anantnag District. Further arrests are expected in coming days as more stone pelters who have already been identified are at large.
According to a police statement, to ensure peaceful and violence free polling in Central Kashmir, police has been taking preventive measures and arrested around 400 stone pelters and trouble makers in this range. Similarly in North Kashmir around 60 stone pelters have been taken into preventive custody.
Nobody will be allowed to disrupt the electoral process. The arrests have been made and will continue to be effected to instill confidence among the voters so that no one attempts to intimidate the people by resorting to violence against those who want to exercise their franchise.
Red Alert Sounded
Authorities on Monday sounded an alert across Srinagar-Budgam constituency amid intelligence reports that suggest militants were planning to carry out attacks ahead of polls for Srinagar parliamentary seat on April 30.
Official sources said that Special Operation Group (SOG) of police and CRPF conducted searches in various parts of Srinagar city including Bemina, Lal Chowk, Maisuma, Nowgam, Dalgate, Hyderpora and Chanpora to thwart any possible attack by the militants.
Security has also been beefed up in outskirts of Srinagar city, including other volatile areas of Budgam and Ganderbal districts. The forces have also started patrolling in the interior and link roads at many parts of central Kashmir to avoid any untoward incident.
Police and paramilitary forces have put up check points at various locations across the city routes to intensify searches of two wheelers and three wheelers. Besides frisking of pedestrians have been intensified by forces at different places in Srinagar parliamentary constituency, which is going to polls on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, posters have also appeared in the city and outskirts from some militant organizations, asking people to remain away from poll process.
Sources said that an alert was sounded in the entire Srinagar district and city outskirts keeping in view the recent militant attacks in south Kashmir; the forces including police and CRPF have intensified joint searches in central Kashmir parts.
A police official while talking to Srinagar based news gathering agency GNS said the security has been put to high vigil. We are maintaining a high vigil as part of preparations for the upcoming polls in order to avoid any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, the locals complained of inconvenience due to the heightened security ahead of polls.
Today I was really astounded when I faced the rude behavior of some police personnel who were performing their duties near Court Road in Lal Chowk Srinagar, said a passerby Mushtaq Ahmad.
He said that there is nothing wrong if they (policemen) were conducting searches for smooth polls but see how the security men behave. It is totally frightening, he said.
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