FRISKING OF WOMEN INTRODUCED IN VALLEY

For the first time in the 17-year long Kashmir insurgency, women too were frisked on roadsides as the security noose on January 26 eve tightened. The areas in and around the Bakshi Stadium, venue of the main R-Day parade are under siege. Sharp shooters have taken positions in the attics and rooftops of residential houses and tall buildings at Haft Chinar, Sarai Balla, Maharaja Bazar and Goni Khan. Markets in the areas were too hit by the unprecedented security arrangements, as most of the people avoid these routes. Heavy contingent of various security agencies frisked every vehicle and pedestrian at Lal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Naaz Crossing and Residency Road throughout Tuesday. No civilian who “cannot prove his identity” is allowed to cross the HSHS bridge. Eight companies of CRPF, troopers deployed for frisking have placed a unique identification tags displaying their names in the run up to the parade. Three more companies of women wing of CRPF have been specially deployed to frisk women at various routes leading to the Stadium. There were long queues of women and children at Lal Chowk who were stopped for frisking by the armed women troopers of paramilitary CRPF. The frisking near Palladium crossing was so intense that a youth who had purchased a DVD player was asked to open its seal. Troopers of CRPF, irked by the presence of mediapersons, had an altercation with a group of journalists at Lal Chowk after they detained a photojournalist of a Jammu-based English daily. The incident occurred when the lensman was clicking pictures of women standing in queues for searches. He was later released after protests by mediapersons and intervention of senior police officials. People have expressed strong resentment against the frisking. “In the name of security now even women aren’t being spared. The security agencies are frisking the people in such a way as if to avert a war or a big attack,” Gulshan Jan, a government employee said after being frisked by troops. Haft Chinar area, a residential area close to Bakshi Stadium, has been cut off from the rest of the city. Police has sealed all the entry points. Besides, top-floor of many houses have been occupied by sharp shooters. The area has witnessed a thorough search operation during the past few days. The residents have been facing inconvenience due to deployment of cops into their houses. “ I’ve two daughters and as a mother I feel insecure in the presence of police who are in our house for two days,” a worried woman of Haft Chinar, wishing anonymity, said. “Our only fault is we live near the parade venue. January 26 and August 15 bring miseries for us. We’re prisoners in our own homes. The security agencies should draw a line between security and harassment,” the residents told Greater Kashmir while pointing towards their houses “taken over” by police. Public Relations Officer (PRO) of CRPF said stringent security measures have been in place for January 26 parade. “We’ve deployed three companies of women’s wing of CRPF for frisking women. For foolproof security arrangements frisking of women is necessary. Besides, we’ve asked our troops to display their names on their uniform to hinder movement of militants moving in uniform,” the PRO said.
MR WASIM