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SRINAGAR (India held-Kashmir): Historic tape, containing, the Indian Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru's categorical pledge with Kashmiris to honour their wishes if they decide to join Pakistan, has been destroyed.

The tape and its text was kept preserved in the archives of the information department in Srinagar, which was destroyed, when the Indian troops heavily shelled and set ablaze the building, housing the information departments office.

'All...Lost'

"All the important events captured on camera and audiotapes after 1947 have been Lost," an official at the information department said Friday.

This important piece of evidence was lost in the devastating fire which engulfed the state information department and the Press Information Bureau office.

A Valuable Evidence

The valuable evidence, a tape and text of the historic speech of then Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru was completely destroyed.

The speech was delivered in the historic Lal Chowk five decades ago. It was in this speech that Nehru promised a fair deal with the people of the Himalayan State of Jammu and Kashmir.

"If people of Kashmir do not want to stay with India, we will not force them against their wishes", Nehru promised amidst a thundering applause by the audience.

Fire-proof Lockers?

Surprisingly, the powers that had been time and again asked to arrange fire-proof lockers for some important documents and tapes but all in vain.

"The major irony is that the (Indian) government never ever provided fire-proof lockers for these valuable tapes and films," an official of the information department preferring anonymity told a local newspaper Greater Kashmir.

"We had a very rich archives here. Some very important documents have been lost due to negligence of the seniors", he added.

BSF's 'Operation'

The officer criticized the India's Border Security Force (BSF) for conducting the operation in a hurry. "Setting such an important building on fire cannot be justified by any means", he said.

The BSF swung into action on the pretext that Mujahideen [freedom-seekers] where hiding in the PIB office situated in the Press Enclave Tuesday evening. The building was set ablaze which destroyed the department's archives.

Security tightened across IHK

Amid this atrocious episode by Indian troops, security has been further tightened across occupied Kashmir following recent attacks on the Press Information Bureau (PIB) office in Srinagar and on central jail in Jammu.

In Srinagar, KMS says, the strength of troops at major government, military and para-military installations has been beefed up.

Strategic Installations

The security at Radio Kashmir Srinagar, Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar and Airport have further been beefed up to thwart the attacks. Besides, troops have erected more barricades in front of their camps to prevent the attacks.

Patrolling has also been intensified and surprise combing operations are being carried out to keep a check.

Vehicles coming to Srinagar from different district headquarters are thoroughly checked by the Indian forces personnel before their entry into the city. Similarly, the vehicles coming from Jammu also being thorough checked.

The security apparatus in the winter capital has also been stepped-up. More troops along with sophisticated gadgetry have been deployed around Assembly, Secretariat, puppet Chief minister's residence, Railway Station, temples and other major government installations.

More Pickets and Checkpoints

Army and para-military forces have also increased the security of their camps and placed more barricades in front the entrance of the camps to thwart the strikes. More pickets and checkpoints have been set in the walled city.

All the underground manholes and drainage system were being sanitized after thorough check-ups. Special security towers have also set up at all market places in Jammu city to have a close watch on the movement of the people.

Police and para-military personnel are carrying out checking of vehicles and frisking pedestrians at several places in Jammu city. The city hotels, lodges and guesthouses are being checked and the managers of these hotels have been directed to alert police in case any suspicious person checked in.