Three days after the fatal attack on CRPF and ahead of August 15, government forces have started massive surprise checking in most parts of the Srinagar city and other sensitive parts of the Kashmir Valley. Reports said that a joint team of Special Operation Group (SOG) of police and CRPF since Thursday launched checking and searches in parts of summer capital here.
They said the joint team of forces carried out the search operation near the commercial hub Lal Chowk which includes the historic Ghanta Ghar (clock tower), Koker Bazar, Amira Kadal. Similar searches were carried out by the joint team of forces in Batamaloo, Tengpora, Kaksarai Karan Nagar and around the security line in the summer capital. The forces, according to eyewitnesses, searched the shops and buildings in these areas. Besides, they were seen checking vehicles and frisking pedestrians.
The cops also searched the belongings of commuters travelling in private and public transport, they said. Witnesses said the surprise checking near Amira Kadal and Batamaloo led to massive traffic jam on the congested road that connects Srinagar to other districts of the Valley. A senior police officer told that surprise frisking and searches were carried as part of the security plans. “There were no specific inputs about movement of any militant(s). The checking and frisking have nothing to do with specific inputs and is part of the security management,” he said, adding that the searches will continue at least till August 15. Meanwhile, reports said the checking and frisking were also carried in some other sensitive parts of Kashmir Valley which include Baramulla, Bandipora, Pulwama, Tral, Shopian and Kulgam.
On Tuesday, militants shot dead CRPF trooper Shankar Lal Barala near the fire and emergency services department, Batamaloo here.