Amid a complete shutdown called by Joint Resistance leadership, August 15 functions across Kashmir passed off peacefully while Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was used for surveillance in and around Bakshi Stadium.Shops and business establishments in Srinagar remained closed while vehicular traffic was off the roads. Only police, paramilitary and Army vehicles were plying on the deserted roads of Kashmir.Reports said that a complete shutdown was observed in all the districts of Central, South and North Kashmir.To ensure the peaceful function at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar, Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras were used to monitor the movement of people and sleuths of Special Security Guards (SSGs) monitored the activities of the participants with binoculars on high rise buildings around the stadium.During the August 15 function at Bakshi Stadium, UAV hovered over the area and its movement was being controlled from Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar.Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces were deployed outside the stadium and were witnessed carrying out patrolling of the deserted streets around the stadium and of other roads of Srinagar.
In old Srinagar, armored vehicles were on standby at most road junctions and large number of forces were deployed to thwart any protest demonstration.Police said that they had laid additional nakas to thwart ‘any effort to disrupt peace’ at scores of places in Srinagar and other towns of Kashmir. Heavy deployment of forces was witnessed at scores of places in Srinagar that included Khanyar, Nowhatta, Bohri Kadal, Hawal, Rajouri Kadal, and Eidgah. The deployement of forces was also witnessed in sensitive areas of civil lines.Commercial hub Lal Chowk was put out of limits for public since early Tuesday morning and the roads leading to the area were sealed at many places with razor wire and armored vehicles. However, a non-local woman managed to breech the security and chanted pro-India slogans near Clock KMD bus stand.The situation in South Kashmir remained peaceful.In Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian August 15 celebrations culminated on a peaceful note.In North Kashmir’s Bandipora, Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara and Handwara towns, situation also remained peaceful.Almost all the separatist leaders were either placed under house arrest or detained in different police stations across Kashmir.A police officer told CNS that the day passed off peacefully across Kashmir. (CNS)