Srinagar: Amid a complete shutdown called by Joint Resistance leadership, August 15 functions across Kashmir passed off peacefully while Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was used for surveillance in and around Bakshi Stadium.
Shops and business establishments across Kashmir and Chenab valley in Jammu region remained closed while vehicular traffic was off the roads. Only police, paramilitary and Army vehicles were plying on the deserted roads of Kashmir.
Reports said that a complete shutdown was observed in all the districts of Central, South and North Kashmir.
To ensure the peaceful function at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar, Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras were used to monitor the movement of people and sleuths of Special Security Guards (SSGs) monitored the activities of the participants with binoculars on high rise buildings around the stadium.
During the August 15 function at Bakshi Stadium, UAV hovered over the area and its movement was being controlled from Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar.
Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces were deployed outside the stadium and were witnessed carrying out patrolling of the deserted streets around the stadium and of other roads of Srinagar.
In old Srinagar, armored vehicles were on standby at most road junctions and large number of forces were deployed to thwart any protest demonstration.
Police said that they had laid additional nakas to thwart ‘any effort to disrupt peace’ at scores of places in Srinagar and other towns of Kashmir. Heavy deployment of forces was witnessed at scores of places in Srinagar that included Khanyar, Nowhatta, Bohri Kadal, Hawal, Rajouri Kadal, and Eidgah. The deployement of forces was also witnessed in sensitive areas of civil lines.
Commercial hub Lal Chowk was put out of limits for public since early Tuesday morning and the roads leading to the area were sealed at many places with razor wire and armored vehicles. However, a non-local woman managed to breech the security and chanted pro-India slogans near Clock KMD bus stand.
The situation in South Kashmir remained peaceful.In Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian August 15 celebrations culminated on a peaceful note.
In North Kashmir’s Bandipora, Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara and Handwara towns, situation also remained peaceful.
Almost all the separatist leaders were either placed under house arrest or detained in different police stations across Kashmir.
A police officer said the day passed off peacefully across Kashmir.
Meanwhile major Towns of Chenab Valley and Pir Panchal regions in Jammu province on Tuesday observed August 15 as ‘Black Day’ against civilian killings in Kashmir by government forces.
Members of Muslim community neither participated in I-Day celebrations nor opened up their shops in Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Doda, Thathri, Gath and Gandoh areas, in response to the shutdown call given by Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik while supported by different locals Muslim organizations including Anjuman Islamia Bhaderwah, Seerat Committee Doda, Anjuman Islamia Gandoh, Markazi Majlis-e-Shoura Kishtwar and Masjid Committee Thathri.
Eyewitnesses said all the shops and business establishments belonging to Muslim community remained shut while transport was off the roads. Locals said that Muslim community stayed away from Independence Day celebrations in every part of the Chenab Valley. They said that shutdown was observed to express solidarity with the Kashmiri brethren.
