In anticipation of President Draupadi Murmu’s maiden visit to Srinagar scheduled for October 11, security measures have been significantly bolstered across Srinagar and various parts of Kashmir.
On Wednesday, President Murmu will grace the 20th convocation of the University of Kashmir in Srinagar, where she will be the esteemed chief guest. The function will be also attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
President Murmu’s itinerary includes engaging with local tribal groups and women Self Help Groups at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar, fostering community interactions. Later in the day, a civic reception in her honour will be hosted at the Raj Bhavan.
On October 12, President Murmu will make her way to the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. There, she will inaugurate the newly remodeled Parvati Bhavan and the skywalk, marking a significant occasion at this sacred site.
Senior police said that they have intensified security arrangements throughout Srinagar and the Kashmir valley in light of the President of India’s impending arrival on Wednesday.
“Additional police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at critical locations, while CCTV surveillance, checkpoints, and frisking points have been set up in response to heightened security concerns,” he said.
The officer emphasised that checkpoints and inspection points would remain operational along the major highways within the Valley as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incidents.
In Srinagar, police and paramilitary forces have established barricades at multiple locations in the city, as well as in other major towns, to facilitate vehicle inspections.
“Random searches of cars and motorcycles are being conducted to thwart any subversive plans by potential terrorists,” added the police officer.
Earlier this week, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh presided over separate meetings to assess security arrangements in preparation for the impending visit of the President to Kashmir.
The meetings, convened at the Police Control Room (PCR) in Kashmir, primarily focused on scrutinising the security measures put in place for the President’s visit. This included a thorough discussion on deployment details along the route, as well as in and around the event venues.
A police spokesperson elaborated that the gatherings also encompassed considerations regarding the allocation of personnel from various forces and intelligence agencies, emphasizing coordination among them.
In addition to these discussions, the DGP conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the overall security scenario in the Kashmir Zone.
The meetings were attended by high-ranking officials, including ADG CRPF J-K, Nalin Prabhat, ADGP Headquarters M K Sinha, ADGP Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar, and IGP CID Nitish Kumar.
Singh underscored the importance of seamless cooperation and coordination among diverse agencies and forces tasked with safeguarding the visiting VVIP, emphasising the need for optimal synergy.
To ensure the security of the President’s visit, a three-tier security arrangement has been implemented around the University of Kashmir, where President Murmu is scheduled to participate in the 20th convocation on October 11, where she will serve as the Chief Guest.
During her inaugural visit to Kashmir, President Murmu is expected to deliver an address at the 20th convocation at Kashmir University, where she will also present awards to outstanding students from 2020 onwards.
More than 400 students will be awarded gold medals, M.Phil, and PhD degrees during the ceremony. Following the convocation, a light and sound show by Dal Lake is planned in her honour in the evening.
The convocation will also be attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
After the convocation and the light and sound show by Dal Lake, President Murmu will be hosted by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan Srinagar.
Earlier, Kashmir University issued a notification on September 30, informing all students about the 20th Annual Convocation to be held on October 11, 2023, at the Convocation Complex, Main Campus, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, where President Draupadi Murmu will be the chief guest and deliver the convocation address.
