Jammu cops on tenterhooks after suspicious movement

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 12

After the police received inputs of suspicious movement in the Kunjwani area of Jammu city, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police launched a massive search operation in the area with the help of the Army.

The search operation continued till late on Friday afternoon but nothing was found. Jammu is already on a high alert on the eve of Independence Day, especially after getting a letter warning of serial blasts in the winter capital.

“The security forces had received the inputs of movement of suspicious elements in Kunjwani where the SOG launched the search operation and Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) of the Army remained on an alert,” said defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta.

The Kunjwani area is close to the Jammu-Pathankot national highway which has remained on the radar of militants from time to time. The area has presence of the Army, schools, business establishments and other important installations.

As the information spread, rumours of suspicious movements being observed inside schools and different localities further aggravated the situation which kept security forces on the tenterhooks.

Parents were seen heading to schools to bring their wards back safely. Schools were closed ahead of the scheduled time and to avert any incident, traffic was stopped in the area. Security was increased in the winter capital and around all important security establishments.

Already the police are taking precautionary measures after it received the letter threatening of carrying out serial blasts in the winter capital on August 15. The threat letter had warned of blasts in various areas, including schools.

The police have taken this threat letter seriously and have increased security around the bus stand, railway stations, airport, religious places, schools and other public places. Check-posts have been put up at various places to search vehicles and frisk people.

Friday being the last working day for many schools in Jammu before Independence Day celebrations, presence of students was thin as parents preferred to keep children in their homes.

“As there were reports of letter warning of blasts in schools in the winter capital, we didn’t send our children to school,” said Anita, a resident of Shastrinagar area of Jammu.