After two deadly fidayeen attacks and a move to change the venue for the official January 26 function in Srinagar, security agencies in Kashmir have huddled to formulate a “joint security strategy” to ensure incident-free R-day functions across the Valley.
A source said that various security agencies are likely to hold deliberations on “security issues” anytime between January 10 and January 15.
The source in the police said that “early finalization” of the security to ensure smooth R-day comes in the wake of change of venue from Bakshi Stadium to SK Stadium for the official R-day function in Srinagar.
“Since there is some repair and renovation work going on at the Bakshi stadium, the R-day parade will take place at SK stadium now. The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by divisional commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan on January 4,” the source said.
He said that this will be for the first time in Kashmir’s history that R-day function would be held at the SK Stadium, and not the otherwise fixed venue, the Bakshi stadium.
Kashmir range inspector general of police, Muneer Khan said that a security review meeting will discuss the measures to be taken for ensuring smooth and hassle-free R-day functions in Srinagar and elsewhere in Kashmir.
Asked whether the recent fidayeen attacks on district police lines (DPL) Pulwama and Lethrpora CRPF camp would also come up for discussion in the meeting, the Kashmir police chief said: “I can’t comment on that, but all the security issues will be discussed.”
CRPF spokesman in Srinagar Rajesh Yadav said that security reviews are an ongoing process.
“We have to ensure peaceful R-day in Kashmir. The meeting will thoroughly discuss the measures to be taken for peaceful functions,” he said.
He said that the meeting is likely to take place anytime between January 10 and January 15.