Srinagar locks down for today's twin concerts

Tight security has been thrown around Srinagar for Saturday’s concert by music maestro Zubin Mehta.

Authorities late Friday night allowed holding of ‘Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir’, a concert by a civil society group parallel to Zubin’s concert in Srinagar.

The twin concert venues are 7 km apart. While the Zubin’s concert would be held in the historic Shalimar garden with 1500 invitees in attendance, the parallel concert would be held in a local park near the city centre Lal Chowk and is open to the public.

While permitting the parallel concert, the local administration has, however, asked the organizers to start it at 4.30 pm.

However, a spokesman for the concert organisers said: “This is unacceptable to us. We will start the concert anytime in the afternoon.”

...

Authorities have beefed up security across the summer capital Srinagar and barricaded the main routes in the city using razor-fitted wire.

The boulevard, which runs along the world famous Dal Lake leading to ShalimarGarden has also been barricaded and hundreds of police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel have been lined up.

...

All vehicles on the boulevard are being thoroughly searched by the security forces.

The traffic police department has already issued an advisory asking the residents living in Nishat, Shalimar and Harwan to reach their homes before 1 pm on Saturday.

...

Zubin and his orchestra arrived in Shalimar garden on Saturday morning under tight security for a rehearsal of the evening show.

Security within Dal Lake is also tight with security personnel keeping an eye in motorized boats.

...

Life in capital Srinagar and other towns has been affected by a shutdown called by the hard-line separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the massive security beef up for the event.

Shops and businesses are closed in capital Srinagar and attendance in government offices and banks is thin. Majority of the schools in capital are also shut.

Public transport is off roads while skeletal private transport was seen plying on the streets.