Security tightened in Kashmir for Independence Day

The police and other security forces this year resumed random frisking of pedestrians and searches of cars and motorcycles.

This comes in the wake of increase in militant activity during which ultras have shot dead a retired police officer in the city and hurled several grenades at police installations in Sopore and Kupwara areas of North Kashmir, the sources said.

Barricades have been set up at sensitive intersections, particularly those leading to Bakshi stadium -- the venue for the main Independence Day function in the state.

The security grid is making use of bomb detectors, sniffer dogs and closed circuit cameras to ensure that militants do not succeed in carrying out any spectacular attack on the eve of that day, the sources said.

More than a dozen youth had been detained by the police over the past two days during night checking, but most of them were let off following negative results in background checks.

Police presence has been improved in busy market areas for surveillance and ensuring that militants do not carry out grenade attacks at these places, the sources added. (More)