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Rediff.com  » News » PHOTOS: I-Day celebrations pass off peacefully in Kashmir
This article was first published 10 years ago

PHOTOS: I-Day celebrations pass off peacefully in Kashmir

Last updated on: August 15, 2014 16:52 IST

Image: College students take part in Independence Day celebrations in Srinagar
Photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com Mukhtar Ahmad

Independence Day functions across Jammu and Kashmir went off peacefully on Friday even though curfew-like-restrictions were imposed in the old city areas of Srinagar.

Authorities jammed mobile and internet services across the valley as part of the overall security drill for the entire duration of the functions.

Barring timely detection of two IED’s (improvised explosive devices) on a highway in Baramulla, no untoward incident was reported from the rest of the state. The IED's were later defused by a bomb disposal squad.

PHOTOS...

PHOTOS: I-Day celebrations pass off peacefully in Kashmir


Photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com Mukhtar Ahmad

Bakshi stadium in the heart of summer capital Srinagar was the venue of the main Independence Day ceremony where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah unfurled the tricolour and took salute of the parade by contingents of the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, local police and school children.

The stadium had been secured by a three tier security bandobast. Heavy contingents of CRPF troopers and local police were deployed in and around the stadium as part of the over all security.

PHOTOS...

PHOTOS: I-Day celebrations pass off peacefully in Kashmir

Image: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inspecting the parade during Independence Day function at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar.
Photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com Mukhtar Ahmad

Specially trained commandos had been deployed on all high-rise buildings around the stadium. All roads leading to the stadium had been barricaded.

Addressing the function, Omar Abdullah made a pointed reference ‘to the improved security situation in the state in his tenure and said that militancy related incidents had dropped by 80 percent’.

PHOTOS...

PHOTOS: I-Day celebrations pass off peacefully in Kashmir

Image: Security personnel stand guard at Lal Chowk
Photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com Mukhtar Ahmad

The chief minister said that return of migrant Kashmiri Pandits to their native land has been his cherished desire and his government worked with the Union government to provide a befitting economic package to the Pandits.

He said his government had made a proposal to the Union government for enhancing the economic package for Pandits.

PHOTOS...

PHOTOS: I-Day celebrations pass off peacefully in Kashmir

Image: Independence Day celebrations at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar.
Photographs: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com Mukhtar Ahmad

Omar expressed hope that the new government at the Centre would take early action in this regard.

A complete shut down was observed across the valley called by various separatist groups. Strict restrictions were imposed in areas falling under 5 police stations of the old city to maintain law and order.