All roads leading to the S K International Conference Centre (SKICC) on the banks of famous Dal Lake have been closed for any civilian movement, while sharps-shooters have been deployed to foil any militant attack during the one-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Srinagar, on Sunday.
Modi is scheduled to visit all three regions of the state – Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh – to lay foundation stones and inaugurate various developmental projects.
During his visit to Kashmir, the Prime Minister will lay foundation stone of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Transit Accommodation for Migrant families and also launch the SAUBHAGYA Scheme from SKICC tomorrow.
Dozens of suspected persons have been taken into preventive custody during the past few days, official sources said, adding that they will be released, after the PM’s visit.
The Traffic department has already announced plan to regulate traffic during the visit of the Prime Minister.
Braving chilly weather conditions due to below normal temperature, hundreds of paramilitary forces and state police personnel, holding automatic weapons, remained deployed on all roads, leading to SKICC.
The main busy road on the banks of Dal Lake at Badyari Chowk has been closed with a barbed wire, while a large number of security forces have been deployed there. Only security vehicles are being allowed to move.
However, residents of localities on the banks of Dal Lake, besides tourists, are allowed to move from this Chowk, after proper frisking and checking of vehicles and identity cards.
The road from Nehru park to SKICC has been declared out of bounds for any civilian movement. The residents of Nishat, Shalimar, Harwan and other areas are being directed to take alternative route to reach their destinations.
In and around the SKICC, a large number of sharp shooters have taken positions, to foil any attempt to cause disturbance during the PM’s visit. Security forces could also seen patrolling on Shikaras and water boats, keeping a close watch over the lake.
Security forces, holding automatic weapons, have also been deployed in the nearby hills, to keep close watch, with the help of binoculars.
Security forces continued intensified searches and frisking in different parts of the city, particularly at the Civil Lines, including at the historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital.
Security forces have been conducting random search in the city. Meanwhile, checkpoints had been established by security forces at several places in the city and outskirts, checking passing vehicles, particularly two and three wheelers, and frisking travelers.
Meanwhile, police has deployed drones at some places in civil lines to keep a close watch on the movement of vehicles and people on roads.(UNI)
