Police in Kashmir have detained a woman from Pune who was suspected to be a suicide bomber.
Kashmir police chief Munir Khan said that police would verify facts and talk to the lady before reaching to any conclusion.
"We had an input about a suspect. Fortunately, after working on all the leads, we were able to apprehend the suspect late last night," Additional Director General of Police Munir Khan told reporters here.
Refusing to give any further details, Khan, who is also holding the post of Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range), said, "We will be talking to her (suspect) and we will be talking to our sister agencies. We will be covering every other lead to know what the facts are. After doing proper investigation, we will come to any conclusion."
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Central intelligence agencies had sounded to the state police that a woman from Pune, identified as Sadiya Anwar Shaikh, had shifted herself to Kashmir Valley and was in regular touch with ISIS operatives, officials said.
A high alert was sounded in the valley two days ahead of Republic Day and a message was circulated that "there is a strong input" that an 18-year-old non-Kashmiri woman might "cause a suicide bomb explosion" near or inside the Republic Day parade in Kashmir.
"All are directed to please ensure that frisking of ladies at the (venues) is done meticulously and with utmost caution so as to thwart the designs of ANEs (anti-national elements)," the message, circulated on 23 January, read.
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Shaikh had been questioned by the Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad in 2015, when it came to notice that she had been radicalised after coming in contact with ISIS supporters abroad.
She was planning to travel to Syria, the ATS had then claimed. The woman, a Class XI student at a Pune college, was subsequently sent for a de-radicalisation programme by the ATS.
All Republic Day programmes in Kashmir, including the main event in Srinagar, today passed off peacefully amid tight security in view of intelligence reports suggesting that militants might target the functions.
No untoward incident was reported in the Valley.
"The Republic Day functions at all district headquarters passed off peacefully," a senior police officer said.
The main official function was held at Srinagar's Sher- e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, where Revenue Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri presided over the event.
All roads leading to the stadium were sealed after intelligence inputs suggested the possibility that militants or other "anti-national" elements may try to disrupt the event, officials said.
Security forces had laid down a multi-layer cordon around the stadium. The stadium hosted the parade for the first time as the regular venue, Bakhshi stadium, is being renovated.
Multiple checkpoints had been set up near the stadium.
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The function at the stadium was attended mostly by state government officials and a few political workers.
Invitations were not extended to the general public in view of paucity of space at the makeshift venue, officials said.
Various wings of police and school children participated in the parade. The students presented a colourful programme.
Public Works Minister Naeem Akhtar took the salute at a parade in Kulgam. Relief and Disaster Management Minister Javed Mustafa presided over a function in Shopian, while Abdul Haq Khan was the chief guest in Anantnag.
Other ministers who presided over the Republic Day parades included Sajad Gani Lone (Kupwara), Imran Ansari (Bandipora), Basharat Bukhari (Baramulla), Ghulam Nabi Lone (Budgam) and Asiea Naqash (Ganderbal).
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(Inputs from PTI)
