KO Photo: Abid Bhat
Srinagar: The 72nd R-Day was celebrated in Kashmir on Tuesday amid tight security, with the main event in the valley being held at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium at high security Sonwar area.
The lieutenant governor’s advisor Baseer Khan presided over the function.
Advisor Khan took the salute at the march past after unfurling the tricolour.
Braving chilly weather conditions, contingents of police and other state forces took part in the parade after Khan was given the guard of honour.
A state forces personnel, who was part of the R-Day parade, collapsed apparently due to hypothermia, officials said.
The jawan collapsed while waiting in the grounds of the SK Cricket stadium for the march past to begin, they said.
The unidentified jawan was rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment, they said adding that he was discharged after his condition stabilised.
A brief cultural programme was held after the parade to mark the occasion.
R-Day functions were also held at other district headquarters and tehsils of the valley, the officials said.
Stringent security arrangements were in place to ensure that the celebrations passed off peacefully, they said.
They said state forces were deployed in strength across the city while security barricades were erected along the routes leading to the stadium.
The officials said drones were also used to maintain a hawk’s eye vigil on any suspicious movement.
As part of the security drill, internet services on mobile devices were temporarily suspended, they added.
Mobile Internet Suspended
Internet services on mobile phones were restored in Kashmir after remaining suspended for over 12 hours as a precautionary measure for ensuring smooth passage of Republic Day celebrations on Tuesday, officials said.
However, the calling service on mobile phones had remained unaffected.
“The mobile internet telephone services have been restored. The services were temporarily suspended early in the morning in the valley for ensuring peaceful Republic Day celebrations,” the officials said.
Suspension of mobile phone and internet services on January 26 and August 15 have been part of the security drill in the Valley since 2005 when militants used a mobile phone to trigger an IED blast near the venue of an I-Day programme. (PTI)
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