In view of the historic launch of the Srinagar [Images]-Muzaffarabad bus service on Thursday, the whole city of Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir [Images], has been decorated.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] will flag off the bus on 7 April.

There is a general feeling that the opening of the route will further ease the tension between India and Pakistan.

• Bussing the peace process

However, four militant outfits have warned that they will target the bus and its passengers, terming the service as an Indian ploy to derail the Kashmir struggle.

On Wednesday, ultras attacked the Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar, where the 25 passengers who will be boarding the bus are lodged.  

Militants have also warned the drivers of dire consequences if they drove the buses.

• Blurring of the LoC

In view of the threat and the attack, security has been intensified along the road leading from Srinagar to the Kaman post, the last post on this side of the border. Security has also been tightened in and around the venue of the flagging-off ceremony.

Even though the administration has assured foolproof security for the service, family members of the passengers are concerned after security forces seized a huge cache of arms along the route.

Despite the security forces' tall claims that the road has been sanitised, how did the militants plant the explosives, they asked

Text: Tejinder Sodhi