SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI, 14 August — Indian forces stepped up street patrols and detained dozens of people in Kashmir yesterday ahead of the country’s Independence Day celebrations, officials said.
Officials said they had intelligence reports that militants fighting Indian rule in the territory would try to disrupt the ceremonies scheduled for tomorrow. Security agencies are working frantically on a strategy to foil attacks by Kashmiri militants and tribal rebels, officials say.
Plans are also in place to ward off possible attacks on top leaders by suicide bombers tomorrow. Militants in Kashmir have staged several attacks during Independence Day on Aug. 15 and Republic Day on Jan. 26.
Authorities are taking no chances this year amid fears of increased violence by militants in the runup to elections in Jammu and Kashmir set for September and October.
At least one militant group has said it will target politicians involved in the elections.
“Security forces have intensified cordon and search operations, offensive patrolling and surprise checks and frisking,” an Indian intelligence officer said.
Authorities in New Delhi also closed the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will make the address to the nation on Independence Day.
“The Red Fort grounds and all approaches are being sanitized,” said a Delhi police officer, added that police would be deployed in full strength across the city on the day.
While India will mark the 55th year of freedom from British rule tomorrow, rival Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day today.
Witnesses said police and paramilitary in full battle gear stalked the busy streets of Srinagar, frisked bus passengers and pedestrians.
Paramilitary soldiers were positioned on top of buildings around the city’s Bakhshi Stadium where Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah will unfurl the Indian flag and make a speech.
A police officer said yesterday rebels have formed suicide squads with Farooq one of their main targets.
“Some 40 non-Kashmiri militants have to sneaked into Srinagar and they are part of four fidayeen (suicide) squads,” K. Rajindera Kumar, who heads the police in the Valley, said.
The police chief said the militants had “completed their final preparations” for the attacks and claimed Farooq was one of their targets.
Officials said dozens of suspects had been detained by security forces across the state in what they described as “preventive arrests”, and would be released after Aug. 16.
“All steps taken by the administration and security forces are only towards improving the overall security situation and prevent criminals from taking advantage from exploiting the situation,” a government spokesman said.
Kashmir’s main separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, has urged people to observe the Indian Independence Day as a black day, and also called for a strike on Aug. 16 to protest against alleged repression by security forces ahead of the state elections.
In the northeast too, a dozen rebel groups have called for a boycott of the Independence Day celebrations.
Meanwhile, one person died and 21 were wounded yesterday when rebels lobbed a grenade at a paramilitary patrol near a bus stop in Kashmir, police said.
A police official said that the militants threw the grenade at Kulgam town in Anantnag district, south of Srinagar, and that the wounded included four Central Reserve Police Force personnel.
