Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 28: Union Home Secretary, L C Goyal, today reviewed security in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of two month long annual Amarnath Yatra beginning from next month.
Goyal, arrived here on a two-day visit today, to take security review in the State, particularly security arrangements for annual Amarnath Yatra.
The Union Home Secretary took a review of the general security situation in the State with top brass of all security agencies including police, Army and civil administration.
The meeting was attended by General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, Lt Gen Subrata Saha, Director General of State police, K Rajendra Kumar, Inspectors General of Police, CID and paramilitary CRPF among others.
The main focus of the meeting was the security for Amarnath Yatra, but general law and order in the State was also discussed in the meeting that was held at Hariniwas here.
The Union Home Secretary was given detailed briefing about security arrangements made for the smooth conduct of annual Amarnath Yatra by the officials of various security agencies.
Lt General Saha briefed the Home Secretary about Army’s “Operation Shiva” that has been launched for the Yatra. He said that Army is providing the environmental security to secure all the approaches to yatra including both the Chandanwari and Baltal routes.
Lt General Saha said aerial surveillance of the route to Amarnath cave shrine is being done on daily basis. He said Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are being used for surveillance of the Yatra route and cave shrine.
The surveillance is being done to prevent any nefarious design of militants of disrupting the yatra. He said although there is no input about yatra being targeted but there is movement of militants in South Kashmir wherefrom Yatra passes.
The DGP briefed him about the deployment of Police, Central Reserve Police, Border Security Forces for security of Yatra for its smooth conduct. He was told that entire security arrangements are already in place and necessary drills have already been conducted.
The DGP told him that there is security in place for Yatra right from Jammu to the. He was also told that CCTV’ s are also installed and the yatra will be also monitored from Srinagar.
Goyal asked the officials to ensure that yatra remains peaceful and no stone should be left unturned to provide maximum possible security for the annual pilgrimmage. He asked the officials to keep a close watch at the anti-national elements who are bent upon disturbing the peace.
Union Home Secretary also reviewed the internal security situation in the State particularly the situation arising in the wake of attacks in Sopore and hoisting of Pakistani and ISIS flags in parts of Kashmir.
The DGP briefed him about the security operation that has been launched in Sopore after the killing of four persons and attacks on telecoms in which two people were killed and four were injured. He was told that special crack teams have been formed and all efforts are being made to give sense of security to the people of the area. He was also told that security forces have identified the militants behind the killing spree and attacks on telecoms and operation to eliminate them is in progress.
The Union Home Secretary was told that the hoisting of ISIS flags has no linkages to the ISIS but it is the act of some individuals who hoist these flags. He was also briefed about the law and order situation in Kashmir valley and measures taken by the police and para-military forces to deal with it.
The Army also briefed him about the counter-infiltration and counter-insurgency operations. He was told about the infiltration attempts being made by the militants from across the LoC. He was told that this year 5 infiltration attempts were foiled by the Army in which 10 infiltrators were shot down.
The Union Home Secretary is visiting the yatra base camps at Nunwan, Pahalgam in south Kashmir tomorrow. He is flying to various other points on the traditional track of Chandanwari for on spot review of the security and other arrangements for the pilgrims.
Goyal this evening called on Governor N N Vohra, who is also the chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and discussed security of Amarnath Yatra and issues of internal security with him.
He is also scheduled to meet Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to discuss security situation in the State and Amarnath yatra arrangements.
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