Mehbooba, Omar attend R-Day function in Srinagar

Amid tight security arrangements, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and former chief minister Omar Abdullah attended the Republic Day function at Bakhshi Stadium, the venue of main function in Kashmir valley here today.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asghar H Samoon was the chief guest at the Bakshi stadium, who unfurled the national flag. He took salute at the parade of the contingents of various wings of J&K Police, Fire Services, CRPF, BSF and school children.
Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, both attired in the traditional Kashmir ‘pherans’ with Mehbooba wearing a headscarf were seated on either sides of the chief guest, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asghar H Samoon. Others who attended the function included PDP leaders and former ministers, Naeem Akhtar and Haseeb A Drabu, legislators and senior police and government officers.
With no elected government in place, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir was the chief guest on the occasion instead of any senior minister.
In his address on the occasion, the Divisional Commissioner hailed the role of the contingents of Police and the school children participating in the event amid shivering winter cold.
The celebrations were also held at the other district headquarters and vital installations across Kashmir Division including frontier cold desert region of Ladakh. A shutdown was also observed across Kashmir in response to the separatists’ bandh call. The functions were held peacefully all over the valley amid heightened security measures.