Mobile phones and internet services on mobile devices were snapped at about 8 AM as people started assembling at Bakshi Stadium, the main venue for the Independence Day celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Calls, SMS and internet services on mobile phones were on Saturday suspended in Jammu and Kashmir as a security precaution on Independence Day, an official said.

Sharp-shooters are also being deployed in sensitive areas and in this regard high-rise buildings have been identified especially around the Stadium.

No untoward incident was reported on Saturday from the state, where ministers took salute at various district headquarters.

Passengers and vehicles are thoroughly checked before being allowed to enter the city.

Police and paramilitary forces have set up temporary barricades at several places in the city and elsewhere to check any movement of militants, he said. We have plugged the borders to ensure that terrorists are prevented from infiltrating into our side of the border.

Reports of complete strike were received from all the major districts of the valley including Islamabad, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora and Budgam.

The event was held under tight security amid a shutdown called by separatists that hit life in the Kashmir Valley.

This year’s extraordinary security arrangements have become necessary as the separatists have carried out a number of attacks in the valley during recent days.

Earlier in the week, militants injured three security men including a police officer and two Central Armed police Forces (CRPF) troopers in addition to a civilian in a grenade attack in the Khanyar area of Srinagar.