Central Kashmir under tightened security after Khanyar, Budgam incidents

Srinagar, Nov 2: Security has been heightened across central Kashmir following two back-to-back incidents – an attack in Budgam that left non-local labourers injured on Friday evening, and an encounter in Khanyar, Srinagar, earlier in the day in which a terrorist was killed.

The recent spike in violence has prompted the authorities to increase vigilance, deploying additional forces and setting up checkpoints to keep check and balance.

On Friday evening, officials said that terrorists targeted a group of non-local labourers in the Budgam district.

Two of the workers sustained injuries in the attack, which took place in the Magam area of the district.

The injured were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, where they are reported to be in stable condition.

Following the attack, security forces conducted searches and combing operations in and around Budgam to trace the assailants, but no arrests have been made so far, officials said.

There have been reports of random checking of vehicles and frisking of people from various areas of central Kashmir.

The deployment of more security personnel was done in the wake of these two incidents.

Less than a day after the Budgam attack, an encounter broke out in Srinagar’s Khanyar locality early Saturday morning.

Acting on specific intelligence, security forces launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the area, where they came under fire from holed-up terrorists.

The Khanyar encounter has heightened tensions in Srinagar, particularly as it marks the latest incident in a series of encounters in urban parts of the valley.

In light of these incidents, security has been ramped up across Budgam, Srinagar, and other parts of central Kashmir.

Authorities have imposed additional restrictions on movement, especially around sensitive areas, and have set up numerous checkpoints to conduct thorough vehicle checks.

Security personnel, including the J&K Police and CRPF, are on high alert, with special units deployed to monitor high-traffic areas and key installations.

The areas around the Lal Chowk, Maisuma, and the outskirts of Srinagar witnessed heightened security on Saturday.

Authorities have appealed to the people to cooperate with security measures and report any suspicious activities.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of civilians. Security forces are on alert, and operations will continue to curb any threat to peace in the Valley,” a senior Police officer said here.

Officials said that security agencies have enhanced surveillance and a fully drone-based surveillance system has been put in place.

“Every measure has been taken to keep inimical elements at bay,” the senior officer said. “The human intelligence has also been strengthened. People are there for round-the-clock surveillance.”