Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 4: In enhanced security for annual Amarnath yatra this year beginning July 2, the State Government would seek deployment of additional 70 companies of para-military forces in addition to existing strength of security forces and police from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) shortly.
“The number of companies to be sought for deployment during annual 59 days pilgrimage in South Kashmir Himalayas has been assessed and will be formally conveyed to the MHA,” official sources said.
Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra, however, told the Excelsior that security for Amarnath pilgrimage this year will be almost similar to what it was last year.
“We are working out all arrangements for the yatra. There will be deployment of Army, BSF, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police in adequate numbers. The deployment will be worked out after re-opening of Civil Secretariat tomorrow. The deployment will start about a fortnight before commencement of the yatra. The sanitization operations will commence once the track is made fit for movement on both routes,” he said.
Rajendra said Army would man mountains at Amarnath ji cave shrine, located at a height of about 13,000 feet from sea level along with para-military forces and police.
“There would be adequate number of para-military and police deployment all along the yatra route including Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar National Highways and roads leading to base camp at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu and advanced camps at Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal,” the State police chief said.
Official sources said the State Government would be shortly approaching the MHA seeking deployment of additional 70 companies of para-military forces for yatra security. “It depends upon the MHA whether they give us BSF, CRPF, ITBP etc. Generally majority of additional companies comprised of CRPF and rest the BSF,” they said, adding the MHA was likely to spare the additional forces as presently there were no Assembly elections in any State.
Moreover, during last month’s review of security in Jammu and Kashmir for three days, Union Home Secretary LC Goyal had assured all help from the MHA for ensuring peaceful annual pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Amarnath ji, which draws lakhs of people from different parts of the country to Kashmir to undertake yatra to the shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas from twin traditional tracks of Pahalgam and shorter route of Baltal. After review by the Union Home Secretary, CRPF Director General Prakash Mishra had also reviewed Amarnath yatra arrangements in Srinagar last month.
According to sources, Army would man the heights of the shrine while BSF, CRPF and police would provide security cover to the pilgrims on Pahalgam and Baltal tracks and National Highways of Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Apart from additional para-military forces, existing BSF and CRPF companies and Police would also be deployed in strength for the yatra security.
Annual pilgrimage to Amarnath ji cave shrine this year is scheduled to begin on July 2 for 59 days. It will culminate on August 29 on the occasion of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. It is after a long time that Amarnath ji pilgrimage would last about two months. The extended pilgrimage requires more security for which the State police have already geared up.
“The major focus of security would, of course, remain two forward base camps of Baltal and Nunwan in Kashmir and Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu. All these camps have been categorized as high security zones,” sources said.
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