At least 15 persons, including five security personnel, were injured in three grenade attacks and a firing incident in the Valley on Wednesday and Thursday.

The state’s Inspector General of Police, Javaid Mujtaba Gillani said that elaborate security arrangements have been put in place in Srinagar city and other places in the valley.

About nine worshippers in the mosque were injured. “Someone touched it, triggering the blast at around 6 a.m.”, a police official said.

“The increase in militant attacks especially in the run up to the celebrations on Wednesday and Thursday demanded extra vigil”, a police officer said.

Militants yesterday also opened fire on an army patrol resulting in injuries to one soldier.

In a departure from decade-old practice, the authorities had allowed uninterrupted mobile services on the Republic Day earlier this year. Thousands of people turned up at I-Day functions in these towns, reports said.

A thick security blanket has been thrown around vital installations here including Bakshi Stadium – the main venue of the ID function in Jammu and Kashmir, where Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is scheduled to unfurl the Indian tricolour and take salute at the march past.

Roads around the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar have been sealed for traffic and pedestrian movement with coils of concertina wire and makeshift drop gates.

“Night domination has been ensured through ubiquitous presence of security forces”.

In Jammu & Kashmir, the normal life was affected on Saturday in Kashmir due to strike call by various separatist groups.

Sources further added that mobile and internet service remains affected in Kashmir zone only, while Jammu and its adjoining areas was not hit.

Students and cultural troupes presented colourful cultural programmes which were enjoyed by the audience.