Intelligence inputs on woman suicide bomber put Jammu and Kashmir on high alert

Srinagar: Security forces were put on high alert in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday following an intelligence input that a teenaged female suicide bomber may carry out an attack in the state.

A red alert sounded by the police said a female 'fidayeen' terrorist had sneaked into Jammu and Kashmir. A senior police officer has said such intelligence inputs keep coming around Republic and Independence Day celebrations.

"We have to verify such inputs, but at the same time, an input like this cannot be brushed aside," the officer said, as per IANS.

Governor NN Vohra will hoist the national flag and take the salute at a ceremonial parade at the Maulana Azad stadium in Jammu. In Srinagar, the venue of the main function has been shifted from the Bakshi Stadium to Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium as renovations are being carried out at the former venue.

All entry points into the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar were sealed and entry permitted only after thorough frisking of travellers and checking of vehicles.

Such exercises were carried out round the clock in Jammu city while lesser number of people ventured out of their homes in Srinagar due to heightened tensions.

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Sniffer dogs, CCTV cameras, security force domination of sensitive installations and VVIP routes have traditionally marked the celebrations of the country's Republic Day in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, as usual, separatists have asked Kashmiris to observe January 26 as a "Black Day" to attract international attention to the Kashmir dispute.

On the other hand, a day ahead of the Republic Day, authorities on Thursday snapped the mobile internet services in Kashmir, PTI reported. The internet services on mobile phones and data cards were suspended as part of the security drill of the Republic Day.

Although it's a normal practice in Kashmir to suspend the internet services on the Republic Day and Independence Day, this is the first time that these services were withdrawn a day earlier.

Traffic police has issued an advisory for movement of vehicles between the city centre and south Kashmir and no vehicle will be permitted to move along the Ram Munshi Bagh- TRC stretch of the road during the rehearsal and Republic Day function. 

(With Agency inputs)