"Our neighbouring country always tries to disrupt peace": Security tightened in J-K's Bhaderwah ahead of Independence Day

As the nation gears up to celebrate the 79th Independence Day on Friday, security forces have been deployed at four areas, including Doda, Bhaderwah, to ensure that "no one with ill intent disturb the peaceful atmosphere," a police officer said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Doda, Sandeep Mehta, told ANI, "From a security point of view, we have four main venues, namely Doda, Bhaderwah, Thathri, and Gandoh. The Tricolour is hoisted at around 142 locations... We have made deployments under a well-designed Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that no one with ill intent will be allowed to disturb the peaceful atmosphere...

Without mentioning Pakistan, the officer said that, "Our neighbouring country always tries to disrupt peace and communal harmony... I urge that if you notice any suspicious movement, inform the police immediately. The Jammu & Kashmir Police and Indian Army stand united to protect you."


Visuals accessed by showed special checkpoints being established at key entry and exit routes, where vehicles are being thoroughly checked, and the identity of passengers is being verified in Bhaderwah . Army patrols have also been intensified in sensitive areas.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army has deployed a three-tiered robotic counter-infiltration grid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar village of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, ahead of the 79th Independence Day celebrations.

Speaking to ANI on Thursday, an Indian Army officer said that the troops are tasked with ensuring zero infiltration along the LoC.

"Our task as the troops deployed on the ground is to establish, maintain and ensure zero infiltration and establish a zero infiltration grid in this area... We do that in three layers," the Army officer said.

Describing the three-tier grid, he said that the first layer of defence is the surveillance equipment, including radars, thermal imaging sites, weapon and helmet-mounted sites, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

He said, "We use the plethora of surveillance equipment which has been given to us by the government of India, including radars, various thermal imaging sites, weapon and helmet-mounted sites, and UAVs."

The Army official added that the second layer is the obstacle system, which includes mines.

"Number two is the obstacle system, which we have incorporated into our defences. We have placed various types of mines and optical systems throughout the entire area of responsibility," he told ANI.

The third layer is the army personnel on the ground involved in routine ambushes and patrolling.

He said, "Number three is us, the men on the ground... We ensure that we send out routine ambushes and patrols to dominate the entire area either physically, by observation, or by fire."