Srinagar, June 7: Concertina wires and heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces greeted the summer capital Monday as Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh landed here for a two-day visit of the state.
 People in most areas woke to see the main road access restricted, while civilian traffic on some major roads including the Airport road remained closed for some hours till afternoon. 
 “You can’t move out till further orders,” an armed trooper could be heard telling a cab driver near Barzulla bridge. The road witnessed restrictions between 10 AM and 1 PM.
 Fearing the restrictions to be in place during daytime, some desperate to go out left for destinations early in the morning. But that too couldn’t bring much difference.
 “My sister had to undergo radiation therapy at SKIMS Soura so we left home at 6 in the morning. But there was so much of frisking enroute that it took us two hours to reach the hospital even though the roads were almost deserted expect for the presence of troops,” said a woman living in Karan Nagar area.
 On the Airport road there was a police Naka after almost every 500 meters.
 As about the old City areas, it was a curfew like situation.“Only people with valid passes are allowed to proceed,” some troopers at a Naka in Rainawari area could be heard telling some locals.
 With marriage season having picked up in the Valley, the celebrating families complained of inconvenience due to the restrictions.
 “The guests who to come to accompany Baraat last night complained of severe frisking on way to the venue as if they had committed a crime,” said a family in Hyderpora locality.
 Feared of more restrictions ahead in the day, a would be groom in Parimpora area got his car decorated early in the morning.
 “We didn’t want to take any risks. We got the car decorated in the morning itself,” said a family source.
 Interestingly, bursting of crackers to welcome Baraat in some areas last night took police by surprise.
 “For some minutes, we thought an encounter had erupted in Sanat Nagar area but then it proved to be the celebrations,” said a senior police official adding that restrictions were in place to avoid any terror attack.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST