Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 25: Authorities have decided to put into place a special Contingency Plan and static/mobile Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) at base camps at Nunwan (Pahalgam) and all major and minor camping sites along 32 kilometers track from Chandanwari. Authorities have also cleared the track up to Chandanwari and established police posts there for coordinating further clearance of snow on traditional yatra route.
With annual Amarnath ji pilgrimage in South Kashmir Himalayas due to commence on July 2 this year, authorities have achieved the first success by clearing nearly 20 kilometers track up to Chandanwari, the motorable road from Nunwan (Pahalgam), the advance base camp of the shrine along traditional route.
DIG South Kashmir range Nitish Kumar told the Excelsior that police has established its first post at Chandanwari after authorities cleared the track and was in the process to set up more posts at Chandanwari and beyond as soon as the track is cleared of snow. The 20-kilometers track from Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam town to Chandanwari has been made fit for movement of vehicles, which would help in transporting the security personnel for deployment along the track.
“The track from Nunwan to Chandanwari has also been sanitized with the help of police and para-military personnel,’’ Kumar said, adding routine patrolling had started in clearing portion of the track.
Giving further details, the DIG South Kashmir said a separate Contingency Plan has been formulated and is being put into place very soon all along the track from Nunwan to holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath ji.
“Static/mobile QRTs of CRPF/police will be formed and made operational for law and order purposes to keep strict vigil on the militants for peaceful yatra, which will continue till August 29,’’ he added.
He said: “the whole area from Jawahar tunnel to holy cave shrine has been divided into 14 Zones. Each Zone will be headed by an officer of the rank of SP or DySP. The Police arrangements in each Zone will include Road Opening Parties (ROPs), area dominance, arrangement at camping sites, camp security static pickets, frisking points and traffic blockades’’.
Official sources said that to ensure better co-ordination at Zonal level without multiple commands, concurrent deployment will also be made in respect of CRPF and BSF, who have also earmarked officers in each Zone/area, who will work with the Zonal Officers.
“The foolproof security arrangements for the pilgrims also include duties and assignments of Police Yatra Officer and Assistant Police Yatra Officers, who will be essentially the Zonal Officers,’’ they added.
According to sources, the authorities after clearing the track right up to Chandanwari from where the pilgrims had to undertake journey either on foot or pithoos and poneywallahs for the cave shrine, authorities have now shifted focus towards snow clearance operations on the remaining track from Chandanwari to the cave shrine.
“The clearance operations were likely to be completed well in time as weather has been behaving this year. Moreover, there was less snowfall this winter as compared to last winter. The yatra is likely to start on set date of July 2,’’ sources said.
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