SRINAGAR: The authorities have declared a high alert in Srinagar after intelligence reports suggested that militants have moved to the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and are planning a major attack on security 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.
Sources said five militants of Srinagar, who were hiding in south Kashmir, 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 security personnel.
After intelligence inputs warning of militant attacks, the police, paramilitary and army men 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.
He said security forces are on the highest mode of alert to deal with any situation in Srinagar.
Asked whether militants are present in Srinagar, he said they come to their hide-outs in Srinagar and then return to their bases.
Sahi said they have got specific information that militants are planning attacks on security forces deployment and camps in Srinagar.
Asked whether the inputs are for downtown or uptown Srinagar, he said, “The inputs are for 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.
The soldiers 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.
Meanwhile, after the PDP-BJP government facing flak from opposition parties for none of its ministers attending the wreath-laying function of the six policemen killed in Friday’s militant attack, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today visited the residence of slain SHO Feroz Ahmad in Sangam area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
She spent some time with parents, wife and two kids of the slain police officer and shared their grief.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh had also visited the residence of slain SHO yesterday to express sympathies and condolences with the bereaved family.