PM Modi's security beefed up ahead of Srinagar rally

Srinagar: Unprecedented security measures have been put in place here ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally on Saturday, with security forces manning all the entry and exit points of the city.

 Scores of check-points have been set-up in and around Srinagar to carry out frisking of vehicles in order to foil any attempts by militants to bring in arms or explosives ahead of the visit, officials said.

 Security forces are carrying out thorough checking of the vehicles entering the city from other districts and keeping a record of such vehicles and their drivers, they said.

 "Security forces have set-up check-points along the roads connecting Srinagar with other districts and entry of vehicle as well as passenger details, including phone numbers of the drivers and the time of their entry into the city, is made," the officials said.

 The unprecedented security measures have led to traffic jams at many places.

 The venue for the Prime Minister's rally - Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium - has been turned into a virtual fortress with Special Protection Group (SPG) taking over it, the officials said, adding a large posse of police and paramilitary personnel have also been deployed in and around the area to secure it.

 Many CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the venue to keep an eye on the movement of people.

 "CCTV cameras have also been installed atop some vehicles of the security forces," they said.

 The officials said anti-sabotage checks have being carried out in the surrounding areas of the venue to ensure fool-proof security for the high profile visit of the Prime Minister this week.

 Modi is scheduled to address a public rally here on November 7, besides inaugurating the 450-megawatt Baglihar Phase II power project in Ramban district of the state.

 As the separatist groups have called for a parallel rally to that of the Prime Minister at Tourist Reception Centre ground - stone's throw from cricket stadium, the authorities have carried out a crackdown on them to foil their plans.

 Several of the top separatist leaders have been taken into preventive detention while some leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq have been placed under house arrest.