The security forces are not leaving any stone unturned ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Kashmir visit. Officials said Mr. Modi was the target of a fidayeen attack during his Bharat Vijay rally in Hiranagar. However, as the militants failed in their attempt, they struck two days later on March 28 at Dayalachak, near Jammu.
Shutdowns and major terror strikes have also marked visits of many previous Prime Ministers.
During Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit on May 21, 2002, senior separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone was assassinated. Similarly, Manmohan Singh’s June 25, 2013, visit saw an audacious militant attack in which eight soldiers were killed.
“Given the situation and the precedents, all precautions have been taken,” Director-General of Police K. Rajendra told The Hindu , even as a high-level meeting of security officials went over the arrangements.
Officials are planning a special security overdrive on Thursday, given the timing and pattern of past attacks. Additional forces have also been deployed along the 11 km stretch of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway, which will be used by Mr. Modi to travel to Uri.
The Hindu has learnt that the alert is now at DGMO level, with some parts of the border being sealed for the Prime Ministerial visit.