Srinagar, Jammu under security blanket ahead of G20 meet

Additional security forces have been placed near the LOC and International Border to prevent infiltration.

J&K police have issued advisories both in the Jammu region and in Kashmir province against spreading rumours regarding the upcoming G20 summit in Srinagar city.

In Jammu region, Mukesh Singh, ADGP, and Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, held a virtual meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners and SSPS, asking them to remain vigilant against the disruptive elements in all the districts of Jammu.

Additional security forces have been placed near the LOC and international border in rings to avoid any kind of infiltration and the technical intelligence have been enhanced in the border areas of Jammu region.

The Army and the entire security grid is on alert as there have been intelligence inputs that there could be an attack in any border district of Jammu or on Jammu-pathankot Highway.

In Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley, security forces along with army are already busy in sanitizing all the places of importance, especially in and around the venue of the meeting which would be held at SKICC on the banks of Dal Lake. The government is already said that they are expecting around hundred delegates from different countries to attend the third G20 tourism working group meeting which is slated to be held on the banks of Dal Lake from 22 to 24 May.

As already reported by this newspaper, Marine Commandos and National Security Guards have been deployed by the central government as part of ground to air security cover to be provided in Srinagar for the G20 meeting. Marine Commandos have already taken over the security of Dal Lake and around the venue of the meeting at SKICC in Srinagar.

In the past few days, National Security Guards have held search cum domination exercises along with police and paramilitary forces at different places at Srinagar city, including at the main business centre of Lal Chowk.

It is in place to mention that the central government has already created a special security grid for the G20 event in Srinagar city after the intelligence inputs about the possible attack in Jammu and Kashmir during or ahead of the meet.

Police chief of Jammu and Kashmir recently told the media that they have taken all the necessary security measures for the event. Security grid has deployed anti-drone equipment and there is monitoring of the important places in Srinagar by the Army and NSG. Already, the central government has deployed Army, BSF, SSB and CRPF along with J&K police to make the event incident free.

Some media reports have said that in the series of security grid meetings, a scheduled visit of G20 delegates to the ski resort of Gulmarg has been cancelled, but there is no confirmation of the government about this cancellation so far.

A lot of precautionary measures have been taken by police and administration both in Kashmir and Jammu regions. All the army goodwill schools have been closed in Jammu, while in Srinagar most of the prominent schools would be closed till 25 May to avoid any mishap. Similarly, all those Kashmiri Pandit employees along with other such employees of minority groups have been asked by authorities not to attend their duties in the respective offices till 25 May.