SRINAGAR, Jan 26: Kashmiri Mujahideen blew up a television transmitter near Bandipora on Saturday in an attack coinciding with India’s Republic Day celebrations, police said.

Armed with AK rifles, several Mujahideen descended on the village of Garoora, near Bandipora, 60kms north of Srinagar, and attacked the low-power transmitter that aired programmes of state-owned television station Doordarshan.

The fighters blew up the mobile van that contained the transmitter at about 3am, police said.

Mujahideen have in the past carried out attacks on Republic Day against Indian forces and official celebrations.

virtual curfew: Occupied Kashmir was under virtual curfew on Saturday on India’s Republic Day, as a smothering presence of Indian soldiers and a strike kept residents indoors.

Only military vehicles and the occasional stray dog were heard on the streets, as police and paramilitary personnel were deployed en masse to prevent feared attacks on official celebrations.

“Security personnel have been deployed in strength to frustrate the designs of militants,” said a senior police official.

“We are on high state of alert all over the state.”

The official said the focus of the Indian forces was Bakshi Stadium, in Srinagar, and Maulana Azad Stadium in occupied Jammu, where the main functions were being held.

All vital installations including the state-owned radio and television stations and security bases were ringed by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian police.

Officials in the federal government centres hoisted Indian flags and sang India’s national anthem, while sharp shooters kept guard.

The All Party Hurriyat Conference had called on all Kashmiri Muslims to boycott the official events and stay indoors.—AFP