SRI NAGAR: Even as unprecedented security measures have been put in place across the Valley for Monday’s visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, militants on Sunday evening attacked a polling booth in South Kashmir’s Tral area, injuring a paramilitary CISF man.
Sources said inner security ring of the PM’s rally at Sheri Kashmir cricket stadium here will be looked after by SSG commandos, some of whom are already present in the city and looking after security arrangements.
They said tight security arrangements had been made for the PM’s rally after recent surge in militant attacks in the Valley.“Over two dozen companies of paramilitary forces would be deployed in and around the Sheri Kashmir cricket stadium here, where the PM is scheduled to address an election rally on Monday afternoon,” a senior police officer said.
He said police and paramilitary personnel assisted by the Army had sanitised the entire area around the stadium. He said sharp shooters, SPO and police commandos would be deployed on building around the stadium. “They would maintain round-the-clock vigil through binoculars and hi-tech gadgets.”
The securitymen were seen searching for explosives inside the cricket stadium on Sunday. The securitymen had pressed explosive detecting equipment and sniffer dogs into service. The control of the stadium has been taken over by security agencies, who have installed many CCTVs within the stadium to keep match on the movement of people. All the roads leading to the stadium have been closed and people have been advised to follow alternative routes. Police have issued traffic advisory and informed people that no traffic will be allowed on any route towards the stadium on Monday.
“Separate gates would be set up for women and the women entering the stadium would be frisked by police and paramilitary women personnel,” police said.
BJP Kashmir spokesman Khalid Jehangir said about one lakh people are expected to attend the rally. The party is hopeful that people from all sections of society would attend the rally, the second to be addressed by a BJP PM in over 11 years.
DGP K Rajendra said adequate and necessary security measures have been taken for PM’s visit.
Sources said Modi may be wearing pheran (traditional Kashmiri gown worn by Kashmiris during winter) during the rally. “Before the rally, the PM would visit Army headquarters in Badamibagh Headquarters to pay tributes to eight soldiers, who died in recent encounter with militants in Uri”.
Meanwhile, militants this evening attacked a polling booth in Tral area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. “At around 6.15 pm militants lobbed a grenade towards polling station set up at Higher Secondary School in Noorapora, Tral in Pulwama district,” sources said.
They said a CISF man identified as R K Rajak sustained injuries in the attack and has been hospitalised. “Two vehicles parked in the premises of the polling station were damaged in the blast,” sources said.
Immediately after the blast, police, paramilitary and the Army sealed the area and launched combing and search operation to track down the militants responsible for the attack.
The Tral area goes to polling in third phase of elections in the State on December 9, a day after the PM’s visit.