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Security beefed up after car hijack at gun-point

SYED YASIR. Dated: 8/14/2014 2:53:33 PM

Full dress rehearsal of ID parade at Bakshi Stadium

SRINAGAR, Aug 13: High alert was sounded across Kashmir valley today after police suspect that militants have hijacked a car on Jammu-Srinagar highway in Ramban district on its way to Srinagar.
The high alert was sounded after a Srinagar-bound car was hijacked by a group of persons on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The car bearing a Punjab registration number was being driven by Karanveer Singh of Pathankot in Punjab and was hijacked. The vehicle had four people on board.
Consequently, a high alert has been sounded across the state as police fear the hijacked car could be used by militants for subversive activities.
The police, CRPF and Army made additional check points in various areas of Srinagar city and particularly on the Srinagar-Jammu highway to trace the missing car. The security force personnel were also seen frisking passengers and their identity cards. However, reports said that no one was arrested during the frisking.
The Bakshi Stadium, the main venue of the Independence Day function in Jammu and Kashmir, was virtually sealed by a large contingent of police and CRPF personnel, while special check points have been set up at various places within the city and its outskirts, especially the entry points leading to the capital.
Although there was no specific intelligence input earlier about any militant strike in the city on Independence Day, however after the car was hijacked by a group of people in Ramban district, the security forces have been directed to remain vigilant and intensify checking to keep the militants at bay.
The security grid is also relying on modern gadgetry like CCTV cameras and human intelligence to ensure a peaceful Independence Day.
Sharp shooters are also being deployed in the sensitive areas and in this regard high rise buildings have been identified especially around the Stadium.
The security was also intensified at the district headquarters where the Independence functions are scheduled to take place, the officials said, adding the security forces have been directed to remain vigilant and intensify checking to keep the militants at bay
The separatists, including both the factions of Hurriyat Conference had called for boycott of the celebrations and a general strike on August 15.
A full dress rehearsal of the Independence Day Parade was held at Bakshi Stadium today.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Rohit Kansal took salute at the march past in which contingents of various security forces and school children took part. The full dress rehearsal passed off peacefully.