Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will preside over and take the salute at the main Republic Day function to be held at Maulana Azad Stadium, Jammu, on January 26, as Jammu and Kashmir steps up preparations for the national celebrations amid heightened security across the Union Territory.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will attend the main function as the chief guest, while senior ministers have been assigned to preside over Republic Day events at key district headquarters.
As per the official schedule, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary will preside over the celebrations in Srinagar, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Ittoo in Anantnag, Jal Shakti Minister Javed Ahmad Rana in Poonch, Rural Development Minister Javed Ahmad Dar in Baramulla, and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Satish Sharma in Kathua. District Development Council chairpersons will preside over Republic Day functions in the remaining districts.
Meanwhile, security has been significantly tightened across all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Republic Day, with authorities putting in place multi-tier security arrangements, intensified surveillance, and area domination exercises.
Officials said enhanced measures including naka checking, frisking of vehicles and pedestrians, and increased deployment of security forces have been enforced across both Jammu and Kashmir regions, with special focus on border and vulnerable areas. Additional forces have been positioned along the International Border and the Line of Control to prevent any infiltration or untoward incident.
In major urban centres such as Srinagar and Jammu, security checks have been intensified at key locations to ensure the smooth conduct of celebrations. Authorities have also deployed drones and high-resolution CCTV cameras to monitor sensitive areas, while sanitisation and search operations are being carried out in vulnerable pockets.
Senior security officials have held high-level review meetings to assess preparedness and strengthen coordination among security agencies. The focus, officials said, remains on counter-terror operations, border security, and maintaining public order during the celebrations.
Along the northern borders, anti-infiltration measures have been reinforced following inputs suggesting increased attempts from across the border. Surveillance has been stepped up with enhanced ground deployment, drone monitoring, and intensified foot and vehicle patrols. Security forces have also strengthened multi-layered anti-infiltration grids along key routes and high-altitude areas to prevent movement of suspicious elements.
Authorities said security forces remain fully prepared to ensure peaceful Republic Day celebrations across Jammu and Kashmir.
