Decision on yatra security after MHA review
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 5: With tourism season setting-in and snow melting leading to coordinated operations in the mountainous areas against the terrorists, the Central Government has started returning the companies of paramilitary forces which were taken for conduct of peaceful Assembly elections in five States/UT, to Jammu and Kashmir but the process will take some time as the MHA has decided to keep some forces in West Bengal for few more days.
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Ahead of Assembly elections in five States/UT where results were declared yesterday, a total of 130 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) were withdrawn from Kashmir division and 57 from Jammu division. Most of these companies were deployed in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Polling in Tamil Nadu was held in single phase on April 23 while in Bengal, it was conducted in two phases in April 23 and 29. Counting was held on May 4.
“The CAPFs withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir and deployed in Tamil Nadu have started returning while those from West Bengal will be back in next few days,” official sources told the Excelsior.
Gradually, they said, all these companies will be back to their positions in next fortnight.
Some additional companies may also reach the UT for stepping-up anti-terror operations. Already, additional companies have been deployed along the International Border (IB) in Jammu sector to keep check on infiltration by the terrorists.
Tourist spots across Jammu and Kashmir are major focus of security keeping in view last year’s terror attack at Pahalgam which prompted the Indian Armed Forces to conduct ‘Operation Sindoor’ inside Pakistan and PoJK.
At the time of withdrawal of paramilitary companies, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had stressed fool-proof security arrangements of all tourist sites using alternate resources like readjustment of companies, and deployment of Reserve Police, Armed Police etc.
“A decision on sending additional companies of paramilitary forces for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji yatra to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will, however, be taken in next few days as there are still about two months left for start of the yatra,” the sources said.
This year, Shri Amarnath Ji yatra in South Kashmir Himalayas will start on July 3 and conclude on August 28, lasting 57 days.
A decision on total number of paramilitary companies to be deployed for annual pilgrimage is generally taken after assessment of the situation by the MHA with top brass of Jammu and Kashmir.
Besides the paramilitary companies drawn from CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB; Army is also deployed at certain places during the yatra.
Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar National Highway besides other roads, base camps in Jammu and Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) are all secured by Army, CAPFs and Police. The twin tracks from Baltal and Nunwan to Shri Amarnath Ji cave shrine are also fully protected.
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