news details |
|
|
| Long live Republic: Unprecedented security brings life to halt | | Cell phones taken off air for 6 hours; transport off roads for almost full day | | ARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Jan 26: People had to bear the brunt of unprecedented security arrangements that had been notched up on the occasion of 61st Republic Day of the nation here. Cellular services across the State were virtually jammed against the backdrop of a terror alert while transport services on all routes were also affected badly.
Though authorities had not imposed any restrictions, fewer public and private vehicles were seen on the roads where check posts were set up. Every vehicle entering the city was being checked and the occupants were being frisked by security forces.
With growing terror threats coupled with several infiltration bids by militants on International Border and Line of Control, all telecom service providers snapped mobile to mobile connectivity across the State putting lakhs of cellphone users in quandary.
“The mobile services were jammed at around 8:45 a.m this morning and there was no signal on mobile phones of private service providers, including Airtel, Vodafone, Tata Indicom and Aircel. BSNL phones did have signal but could not connect to other phones. There was also no way of reaching service providers to know why there was no signal,” said official sources.
Sources said that cellular services had been jammed following inputs that the terrorists might use mobile phones to trigger explosive devices or pass on directions on phone. Cellular services, however, were restored at around 1:30 p.m. Landline phones were functioning as usual in the State.
The jawans of Paramilitary forces and local police had set up road blocks and took positions atop government buildings. Heavily armed contingents of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) wearing bullet-proof jackets had taken over the MAM Stadium, the main venue of celebrations in the winter capital city of the State.
Security had also been tightened at all major government telecommunications and power installations, with additional personnel deployed, sources said.
There was strong resentment among the people owing to security as the jawans allegedly harassed the commoners on the pretext of checking. Minor skirmishes of some people with police and paramilitary jawans were also witnessed on several places.
“Orders for traffic diversions seem to have been made in the official chambers of senior functionaries of the administration. They should have taken care of the problems were to be faced by the common man in view of such restrictions. Though the traffic diversions have not affected those having their own vehicles, yet thousands of people were subjected to multiple problems,” a pedestrian at Indira Chowk told Early Times.
He, however, suggested the public should be taken into confidence before any decision which directly affects the life of common man.
Meanwhile, all city roads wore a deserted look as only few private vehicles were seen plying on roads. Long routes were not allowed to enter into the city while the mini-buses ferrying passengers from one part of the city to other also remained missing from their respective routes till late this afternoon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
