Three days ahead of the second death anniversary of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, authorities have beefed up security across Kashmir with intelligence reports warning that militants may carry out a major strike on or before July 8.

“In a bid to show their presence, militants may carry out strikes by or before July 8. And with Amarnath yatra going on, they (militants) have more reasons to create a disturbance,” sources told DH.

Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik have called for a complete shutdown on July 8 and asked people to reach Tral, Burhan's hometown, where they plan to address a huge gathering jointly.

Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir based United Jihad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salah-ud-Din, who also heads Hizbul, has announced that July 8 would be observed as the second anniversary of Burhan's death in both parts of divided Kashmir.

With annual Amarnath yatra also going on, authorities don’t want to take any risk. “The police have already detained hundreds of workers of separatist organisations and seized hundreds of bikes to thwart any attempt by the Hurriyat to mobilise people on July 8,” sources said.

However, a senior police officer said they will leave no stone unturned to ensure that peace and law and order are maintained in the Valley. “There is no question of allowing any rally or a gathering. The primary concern for security agencies will be to ensure that there is no breach of peace anywhere,” he said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, who arrived in Kashmir on Wednesday to review the conduct of ongoing annual Amarnath pilgrimage, sought fresh feedback on “possible challenges on militancy front.” The visit came just four days ahead of the Burhan anniversary.

Burhan, then 22, kept the security agencies on tenterhooks for six years, before getting killed in a brief gunfight in Kokernag, Anantnag on July 8, 2016. He was considered a poster boy of new-age militancy in Kashmir. His killing triggered a six-month-long uprising that left more than 90 civilians, mostly youth, dead in action by security forces. Two cops were also killed during the protests.