Srinagar: Security forces on August 9 foiled militants' plan to trigger powerful blasts by detecting explosive devices at two crowded bus stands in North Kashmir, official sources said.

Alert security forces detected two explosive devices, planted by militants at Sogam bus stand in Kupwara district and Sopore bus stand in Baramulla district on August 9 morning, the sources added.

Both the devices - an improvised explosive device (IED) and a grenade - were later defused by the experts of bomb disposal squads, thus avoiding possible civilian casualties, they said.

Security has been beefed up across Kashmir valley in the wake of sudden spurt in militant attacks over the past few days which authorities believe was aimed at spreading terror to disrupt the forthcoming Independence Day functions.

Besides area domination, police and other security agencies were directed to maintain tight vigil to foil any attempt of militants to intensify attacks on civilian and military targets, the sources said.

Meanwhile, security forces picked up four youth hailing from the frontier district of Kupwara for questioning during search operations at Mehjoor Nagar locality in uptown Srinagar official sources said.

The youth, identified as Mohammad Abdullah Malik, Mohammad Maqbool, Arshid Lone and Gulzar Ahmad Gojri, were taken into custody, the sources said.

All the residential houses in the locality, falling in the close vicinity of Bakshi Stadium - the venue of the main Independence Day ceremony - were searched by the troops during the operation, the sources said.

PTI