Show cancelled in J&K

SRINAGAR: High drama unfolded at the Bakshi Stadium, the main venue of the Independence Day function in J&K, when a programme was abruptly cancelled. This prompted chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to leave the venue early.

The cancellation of a dare-devil show by motorcycle-borne soldiers set the rumour mills grinding in Srinagar which was virtually under siege on Tuesday. Some television channels went on air saying that the security forces have gone in a tizzy following the information of a possible bomb attack.

Police and CRPF, who were responsible for the security, went immediately into a damage control mode to clear the misgivings created by the reports. “We had to cancel the dare devil show because the ground was slippery because of the early morning rain. That is why chief minister left the venue. There was no bomb or a fidayeen,” said A P Maheshwari, inspector general, CRPF, Kashmir range.