After 17 years, crackdowns return to Srinagar

Srinagar: After a gap of over seventeen years, random crackdowns and instant search operations by the security forces are back in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, raising many eyebrows over the PDP-BJP government’s claim that the security situation in the Valley has improved considerably in the recent months.

However, the authorities justified security forces’ action saying instant cordon-and-search operations (CASOs) were being conducting at chosen places in and outside Srinagar in view of reports that militants were planning some spectacular attacks on the eve of Republic Day.

They admitted that a high alert has been sounded across the state, particularly Srinagar. “We have inputs that terrorists are planning such actions on the eve of Republic Day that would draw media attention. It is, therefore, in the interest of the people to carry out such operations,” said a police spokesman. The spokes-person pointed out that two IEDs were detected and defused in the outskirts of Srinagar at the weekend.

However, former CM Omar Abdullah, while taking a dig at the state government, wrote on Twitter. “Crack downs return to Srinagar. Another ‘achievement’ of the Mufti government.”

Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, tweeted, “Strongly condemn the tormenting #CASO operations in #Srinagar!