Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 29: Taking holy annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath ji shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas as very seriously, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has given nod to deployment of around 600 additional companies of para-military forces along yatra routes to ensure fool-proof security of the pilgrims following certain kind of adverse reports given by the Intelligence agencies.
The deployment this year will be made well in advance especially in South Kashmir districts to sanitize the areas from militants, Over-Ground Workers and stone pelters. This is being done to ensure that the annual pilgrimage, which has been going on for centuries together, proceeds smoothly, sources told the Excelsior.
“A high-level Special Cell has been created in the Home Ministry to constantly monitor security arrangements for Shri Amarnath ji pilgrimage. The Cell comprising top brass of the Home Ministry would stay in touch with Jammu and Kashmir Government officials especially police and para-military heads to meet their requirements,” they said.
They added that the deployment of around 600 additional para-military companies by the MHA for Amarnath ji yatra security arrangements was nearly three times high than the previous year when hardly 200-odd additional companies were approved for security while rest were mobilized from local deployment of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) etc.
However, this time, the Government has decided not to disturb the Security Grids both along Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) as well as hinterland in view of protests by the youth and students in different parts of the Valley especially South Kashmir, sources said, adding that para-military forces deployed in hinterland wouldn’t be disturbed and only additional forces will be deployed for the pilgrimage.
According to sources, advance deployment of para-military forces in South Kashmir could be made well ahead of start of the pilgrimage, which, this year, has been scheduled to begin on June 29 and will continue till August 7, lasting 40 days. However, deployment along Pathankot-Jammu and Jammu Srinagar National Highways, base camps of Nunwan (Pahalgam) and Baltal, twin tracks of the yatra along Panchtarni and Baltal and Jammu Yatri Bhawan will be made as usual.
Though there are no specific threats to Shri Amarnath ji pilgrims, the Central and Jammu and Kashmir Governments are taking no chances and have already ordered all possible steps to ensure foolproof security, sources said.
Sources said the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all agencies concerned to keep a close watch and maintain effective coordination to ensure everything goes smoothly for the holy pilgrimage.
At the same time, sources pointed out, the unrest and militancy in the Valley notwithstanding, there has been no drop in the number of devotees who have enrolled for the arduous trek. So far, around 2.5 lakh pilgrims have registered themselves for the yatra across the country.
Around 2.20 lakh pilgrims had offered prayers at the naturally formed Ice-Shiv Lingam last year despite massive disturbances in the Kashmir valley after July 8 when Hizbul Mujahideen divisional commander Burhan Wani was killed.
Referring to enhanced security for Shri Amarnath ji pilgrimage this year and series of measures being taken by the Union Home Ministry for safety and security of the pilgrims, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh said it was responsibility of not only the Centre and State Governments but also all other parties including the Opposition and the people to make the yatra a success.
“The yatra is a matter of faith for pilgrims. It also symbolizes rich heritage and culture of Kashmir in which all people join hands for making the yatra successful,” Dr Jitendra Singh said, adding that people of all three regions would benefit from success of the pilgrimage.
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