Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 8: Aware of the threat perception to annual Amarnath ji pilgrimage this year, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved 125 additional companies of para-military including CRPF, ITBP, SSB and 16 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for deployment along the National Highways and yatra track to provide fool-proof security to the pilgrims.
Apart from the additional companies of para-military forces and NDRF, the MHA has asked Jammu and Kashmir Government to mobilize all available forces like Army, para-military forces, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Armed Police for deployment along the all yatra routes.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the teams of Union Home Ministry after hectic consultations with Jammu and Kashmir Police has decided to provide 125 additional companies of para-military forces for this year’s Amarnath Ji pilgrimage, which will start on July 2.
In addition to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), which will comprise CRPF, ITBP and SSB, the Home Ministry has also agreed to deploy 16 NDRF companies along the yatra track for safety and protection of lakhs of pilgrims, who were expected to undertake yatra this year between July 2 to August 18.
Though the threat to Amarnath yatra from the militants was always there, the concentration of militants in South Kashmir this year was very high especially after the killing of three BSF jawans at Bijbehara followed by the killing of two police personnel in Anantnag.
However, Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar told the Excelsior that whatever required for peaceful and conducive yatra is being done by Jammu and Kashmir Police with the help of all security agencies.
Rajendra said in addition to additional 125 para-military companies and 16 NDRF team, the Jammu and Kashmir Police would deploy 10 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, Army troops, JKP, Armed Police, District Police and all other available forces along the National Highways from Lakhanpur to Baltal and Nunwan, the two base camps of the yatra in Ganderbal and Anantnag districts and twin tracks of Chandanwari and Baltal for security of the pilgrims.
“The additional companies of para-military forces and NDRF from the Union Home Ministry will start reaching here from June 15 after which the deployment process along the Highways and yatra tracks would start,’’ Rajendra said.
Sources said traditional Pahalgam track of Amarnath ji yatra has been cleared up to Sheshnag by the special teams of Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA).
PDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Riaz Ahmad Wani said their teams have cleared 12 kilometers track completely of the snow from Chandanwari to Sheshnag.
“We will completely clear the track of snow by June 22 and hand over the track to Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB),’’ Wani said, adding 200 snow clearance experts of the PDA were on the job working round-the-clock to clear snow from the track.
He said sheds, fencing and pre-fabricated huts will be complete by June 22. He added that the PDA has taken up track widening work at Pissu Top and Lower Cave area this year while railing and fencing is being installed at Sansing Pari, at Kilometers Point 30. The widening and fencing is being done for protection of the pilgrims.
Meanwhile, Rajendra today held high level review of security scenario for Amarnath ji yatra along both the tracks of Pahalgam and Baltal in meetings with senior officers of police and security forces. He called for close coordination among all security agencies for ensuring smooth and peaceful pilgrimage.
Rajendra along with IGP Kashmir SJM Gillani also took aerial survey of both the routes from Pahalgam and Baltal to identify sensitive places and strength Security Grid to thwart any plot by the militants to target the yatra.
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