Strict security arrangements put in place on Home Minister’s visit

By Firdous Hassan

Srinagar, June 7: Security across the city was tightened on Thursday on Home Minister of India Rajnath Singh’s two-day visit to the valley.
Singh arrived in the valley to review the law and order situation and to take a call on the extension of the ongoing ceasefire.
Several routes mostly in the southern parts of the city were sealed off by the government forces.
Heavy deployment of the police and paramilitary personnel was witnessed along the Home Minister’s route from airport to SKICC, while barricades and checkpoints were established at multiple spots.
People, including tourists, were scarcely allowed to take Boulevard.
Initially, the roads leading to SK Indoor Complex at Wazir Bagh was sealed off, where the Home Minister attended the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Conclave 2018 organised by the State Sports Council.
The civilian vehicles taking this route were frisked by the forces, resulting in traffic disruptions from Gogji Bagh to Rambagh in the forenoon.
The disruptions later spread to the other areas like Jawahar Nagar, Batamaloo, and Lasjan, which were offered to the people as diversions.
Tight security arrangements were also made within Dal Lake, where security personnel patrolled the lake in Shikaras and motorboats.
Umar Ahmad, a travel agent, said the tourists remained indoors, while many left the area in the wee hours.
Hundreds of them returned without visiting the gardens, he said.
“They could not go for sightseeing today as planned in their tour package due to restrictions across Boulevard,” he said.