No vehicle to move from Jammu thereafter
Anti-drone mechanism being installed at 7 places
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 12: In a major decision aimed at protection of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Jammu and Kashmir Government have decided not to allow any yatri to move from Jammu to Srinagar after movement of the Road Opening Party (ROP).
The decision is aimed at ensuring that no yatra vehicle is caught isolated on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway or on Srinagar-Baltal track on way to holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir Himalayas.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the directions are being circulated among all top officials of security agencies to strictly implement the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the pilgrimage. Allowing yatra only under the ROP has also been made part of the SOP now, they said.
Earlier, pilgrims were allowed to directly reach base camps of Baltal in Ganderbal district and Nunwan (Pahalgam) in Anantnag district in their private vehicles for undertaking onward pilgrimage to Lord Shiva’s cave from both routes.
Only few pilgrims used to leave in the official convoy from Yatri Niwas Jammu early in the morning for Baltal and Pahalgam which was fully escorted by the ROP and security convoys.
“However, this year, strict instructions have been received from the MHA as well as Jammu and Kashmir Governments to allow pilgrims only under the ROP and security convoy. But it is not necessary that the pilgrims should stay at Yatri Niwas. They can stay at the place of their choice or reach Jammu at the time of departure of yatra convoy to reach Baltal or Pahalgam under the ROP,” sources asserted.
Thereafter, they said, no yatra vehicle will be allowed to proceed to base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam from Jammu.
On how the security personnel will differentiate between tourists and pilgrims, sources said a mechanism is being developed but admitted that the task is tough. However, the decision has been taken in interest of the pilgrims and it is also up to them to follow the Government guidelines which have been taken in their interest of safety and security.
Asserting that there have been genuine security concerns as far as pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Ji shrine this year is concerned, sources said, all vulnerable areas in Jammu and Kashmir will remain under drone surveillance while anti-drone mechanism is being installed at selected places.
“Anti-drone mechanism will be installed at the places which are under range of drones from Pakistan’s International Border,” sources said, adding all such places have been identified but their names have been kept secret.
Installation of the anti-drone mechanism is on and it will be in place well ahead of start of annual pilgrimage from June 30. The yatra will last 43 days till August 11.
In Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, at least seven places have been identified for installation of anti-drone mechanism.
Sources didn’t rule out the possibility of increasing number of additional paramilitary companies for the annual pilgrimage. At present, 350 additional companies of CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB are being deployed for yatra security and protection but the number could go up if the need arises, they said.
A decision has also been taken on deployment of Army on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, base camps of Nunwan in Pahalgam, Baltal, twin yatra tracks and the cave shrine, sources said.
As already reported, all yatra vehicles and yatris will be given Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to monitor their movement.
The Government is expecting at least eight lakh pilgrims during annual yatra this year.
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