Firdous Qadri
Srinagar, Feb 22 (GNS): Four days after two policemen were killed at Baghat Barzulla area in outskirts of Srinagar, police and paramilitary forces carried surprise cordon-and-search-operations in Lal Chowk and adjoining area.
Reports reaching GNS said that the surprise checks were carried at Hari Singh High Street and areas adjoining it including Amira Kadal. An eyewitness said that people especially youth were queued up and then frisked by the police. “Immediately it gave the feeling that we have returned to 1990s when such crackdowns were order of the day,” a middle-aged person said.
The security has been beefed up in several areas of Srinagar and more security personnel have been deployed in Lal Chowk, Jehangir Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Regal Chowk, TRC Chowk, Polo View and other areas.
On Saturday, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar (IPS) chaired a detailed security review meeting at Police Control Room here.
“Focus of the meeting was recent attacks by (militants) in the Srinagar City and the security measures to counter such attacks,” a police spokesman had said in a statement issued here.
“The participating officers presented an overview of the steps initiated by them in their respective areas to counter such attacks and other challenges faced at the ground level”.
IGP Kashmir was also briefed about the detailed security measures put in place to counter such attacks and for the maintenance of peace and security particularly for tourists as it is expected that a large number of tourists will visit valley in the coming summer season, the spokesman said.
While interacting with the officers, the IGP Kashmir had urged upon the participating officers that it is of crucial importance to enhance security surveillance of all vital establishments and locations besides to take care of vulnerable persons to thwart away the “nefarious designs of militants) in Srinagar city.
He had also urged upon them to take all necessary measures for ensuring peaceful atmosphere in the Srinagar City.
He also stressed on the officers to strengthen the general security grid and to ensure better synergy and coordination among themselves and other sister agencies working at the ground level, so that militants and “anti-national” elements do not get any chance to disturb the present peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the Srinagar.
He had also highlighted the importance of round the clock checkpoints/nakas at strategic locations, surprise (flash) naka, surprise limited CASO in crowded places, placing cut-off points on exit routes immediately after such incident and dominating from high reaches, use of drones to check the movement of elements inimical to peace. (GNS)
