Jammu, Udhampur on high alert after suspicious movement

Army, Police carried out searches in Miran Sahib area; Security strengthened in Udhampur too

High alert was sounded in Jammu and Udhampur districts on Wednesday night following two reports of suspicious movement in the Miran Sahib area on the outskirts of Jammu city and possibility of infiltration on the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
The police, Army and the administration were on their toes throughout the night. As a result, some schools in Jammu and Udhampur remained closed today.
The police in Jammu said searches were conducted during the night in the Miran Sahib area by the Army and the police following reports of suspicious movement.
“Nothing was found during the searches after which the operation was called off. After information of suspicious movement, high alert was sounded but it was called off this morning,” said Sunil Gupta, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jammu.
A resident of Satwari in Jammu said the Army choppers were making rounds during the night and it did not sound normal.
“A few shopkeepers outside the Satwari cantonment were on Wednesday evening asked to close their shops early,” the resident said.
A red alert was also sounded in Udhampur town by the Northern Command and the police last night, leading to closure of all Army schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas today. Air Force Station, Jammu, school was also closed early, creating panic among parents.
All vital installations, including the Udhampur railway station, Vaishno Devi and Chenani-Nashri tunnel, were put on high alert and security was beefed up. Strict vigil was being kept on the highway and other locations in the district.
“High alert was sounded for security installations at all places in the Jammu zone as a precautionary measure,” said Rayees Ahmed Bhat, SSP, Udhampur.
“(The people are asked to) remain alert and cautious and inform the police in case of any suspicious movement. There is no need to panic. Rumours of terrorists being sighted in Udhampur are baseless and there is no need to pay any attention,” Bhat said.
Sources in the Army confirmed that a red alert was sounded in the area.
“We were told by the higher authorities to sound a red alert. Beyond that we have no information,” said a source.
Another source in the Army said that after the red alert, movement of Army vehicles was restricted and schools were closed as a precautionary measure.