Army, police increase patrolling


Tariq Mir
Bandipora, Jan 14:After the recent grenade attack on army’s patrol party here, the police and army personnel have intensified their patrolling in this district headquarters.
Following the militant attack, the army and police personnel have intensified the patrolling in the entire Bandipora township. During the patrolling police and army personnel frisk the passers-by. The passenger and private vehicles plying on roads in Bandipora are being stopped and those travelling in these vehicles are being frisked. The security personnel also thoroughly check the documents of the vehicles. Most of the sumos travelling in the Bandipora township are being searched by the security personnel. “This is being done to prevent militants from transporting ammunition from one place to another”, an army officer said. Army has also intensified its combing and search operations. The house to house searches are being frequently conducted by the army personnel in the Bandipora town and its adjoining areas. They are also conducting surprise crackdown operation in the Bandipora town. The identity cards of people are also being thoroughly checked by the army and police personnel. People of the township complained that army and SOG personnel are unnecessarily harassing the populace in the name of security measures. “Every morning forces barge into our homes. Under the garb of conducting search operations, they have been harassing us. We don’t feel safe even inside the four walls of our homes”, said local Mir Mohammad Amin of Bandipora ward no 2. Senior Superintendent of police, Malik Zahid said that security measures in the township have been increased after the recent attacks. “We have got reports that militants have sneaked into Bandipora town and may carry out attacks. To prevent them from carry out attacks, we are conducting surprise crackdown and combing operations”, he said.